The Hamaspik News of Hamaspik Agencies and General Health Gazette FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156 GAZETTE SURVEY HEALTH STAT HEALTH QUOTE HEALTH TIP

The GAZETTE asks YOU: ALZHEIMER’S: THE HERE AND NOW THE U.S. JUST ISN’T THAT DIFFERENT FROM Strong social support is one of the WHEN DO YOU PUT YOUR KIDS TO BED? 105 5% 5.5 MILLION OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN HOW keys to happiness and good health. MUCH HEALTH CARE WE USE. IT IS VERY A: 7 P.M.; B: 7-8 P.M.; 8-10 P.M.; 10 P.M.+ NEW MEDICATIONS PATIENTS UNDER AMERICANS Making an effort to improve relationships with UNDERWAY AGE 65 CURRENTLY DIFFERENT IN HOW MUCH WE PAY FOR IT. DIAGNOSED people already in your life is one way Respond to: [email protected] —Harvard Global Health Institute director Ashish Jha, The New Source: WebMD York Times, Jan. 2, 2018 to increase your social support.

INSIDE HAMASPIK NEWS HEALTH HOME SWEET HOME, HOME, HOME Live near gym? You’re likelier 04 to be in better shape: study WITH HAMASPIK OF KINGS COUNTY NEWLY APPROVED TO OPEN THREE NEW GROUP HOMES IN BROOKLYN, THREE NEW SETS OF INDIVIDUALS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, WILL GET THE HAMASPIK TOUCH PUBLIC HEALTH & POLICY

CVS to buy Aetna for $69 billion, 02 launch retail health hubs

Vax up, New York! Strong flu 10 season this year BLAST FROM THE PAST: MR. ISRAEL HAMASPIK WERTHEIMER, OBM WITH COMMUNITY Hamaspik hosts Chanukah party AND HAMASPIK 06 for beloved Family Care providers LEADERS AT THE 2007 GRAND OPENING OF Rockland County staff gets go 07 for basic nursing in the field HAMASPIK OF KINGS COUNTY'S 61ST ST. ‘Kids First’ Shabbaton for MEN'S RESIDENCE. 08 After-School Respite Program

Monsey parents, young adults 09 reach for STARS

HOSPITALS

Harlem’s New York Proton 11 Center nearing completion

AUTISM

Graduation rates rising 05 nationwide STORY ON PAGE E3 >>

NEW FEATURE! HEALTHY EATING DISABILITY NEWS PAID US Postage US Ptex Group Break Out That More Hudson Valley, Non Profit Org.Non Butternut Squash! NYC, Long Island THREE EASY RECIPES FOR GREAT NATURAL DISHES Agencies Signing Up with Tri-County Care SEE PAGE E3 >>

SENIOR NEWS

NNewew YYorkork BBecomesecomes FFirstirst “Age-Friendly”“Age-Friendly” SStatetate iinn tthehe UU.S.A..S.A.

Provider Hamaspik of Rockland County Hamaspik of Rockland Provider ‘18 by: Jan. Published and Copyrighted 59, Suite 1, Inc., 58 Rt. NYSHA NY 10952 Monsey, SEE PAGE E8 >> SEE PAGE E15 >> E2 HAMASPIK GAZETTE FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156

PUBLIC HEALTH AND POLICY NEWS NURSING HOME TRANSITION AND DIVERSION (NHTD) PROGRAM Providing: Service Coordination · assistive technology · moving assistance · community Services transitional services · home/community support In Record-Breaking $69 Billion services · E-mods · independent living skills · positive Provided by behavioral interventions · structured day program TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAM Deal, CVS to Buy Aetna, Turn Providing: Service Coordination · independent NYSHA living skills training · day programs · rent subsidies Pharmacies Into Health Hubs · medical equipment · E-mods · transportation · AGENCIES community transitional services · home/community support services CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM Providing: Breakfast · lunch · supper · snack HEALTH HOME SERVING CHILDREN OPWDD (HHSC) Providing: Intensive, comprehensive care COMMUNITY HABILITATION (COM HAB) management and family/community support Providing: One-on-one personal aides to help services for children with chronic condition(s) and/ individuals achieve valued outcomes by means or mental health issues at greater risk for relapse of helping them improve their activities of daily and/or lack of care HEALTH MONOLITH, OR MONOPOLY? THE PROPOSED DEAL IS RAISING BIG QUESTIONS daily living (ADL) skills and long-term life goals SENIOR DINING/SOCIAL DAY PROGRAM HOME-BASED RESPITE (SHNOIS CHAIM) Providing: Relief for parents of individuals with Providing: Daily onsite lunches and social/ Woonsocket, RI — Health retailer locations in its drugstores and within Target special needs educational activities for community seniors CVS, America’s second-largest pharmacy stores. According to CVS, its pharmacists and AFTER-SCHOOL RESPITE (Orange and Rockland Counties only) Providing: A respite program for after school APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) chain, announced on Dec. 4 that it would be nurse practitioners can provide ongoing health hours and school vacations Providing: Behavior modification for children with purchasing health insurance giant Aetna for care for people with chronic conditions like DAY HAB PROGRAM autism covered by private insurance Providing: A day program for adults with the princely sum of $69 billion. diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma. disability LHCSA - HAMASPIKCARE The merger would give the resulting The companies are counting on the notion SUPPLEMENTAL DAY HAB PROGRAM new company more clout with drugmakers that people will prefer going to a clinic around Providing: An extended day program for adults PERSONAL CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES with disability Providing: Home health aides · personal care aides and would aim to bring more health care to the corner than making repeated trips to their · housekeepers · HCSS aides CAMP NESHOMAH consumers in retail clinics. The companies doctors that might require appointments and Providing: A day program for children with COUNSELING SERVICES disability over summer and winter school breaks Providing: Diet/nutrition counselors · social workers said that together they want to offer more long and burdensome waits. INDIVIDUALIZED RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION SERVICES health care services in CVS drugstores. However, numerous healthcare industry ALTERNATIVE (IRA) Providing: Physical therapy · speech therapy · In changing its name to CVS Health three captains and public servants continue to occupational therapy Providing: A supervised residence for individuals years ago, CVS is trying to reposition itself express alarm at the proposed merger, which who need out-of-home placement PACE-CDPAS INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES Providing: Personal care aides for people in need as a health care company rather than just a is expected to be reviewed and approved by the Providing: Apartments and supports for SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORTS drugstore. U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ). individuals who can live independently Providing: Minor maintenance for those qualifying The vision is that customers, especially But if greenlighted, the new healthcare ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS SOCIAL MODEL Providing: Home accessibility additions Providing: A social day program for senior patients those covered by Aetna insurance policies, services offered through CVS Health by SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT (SEMP) NURSING SERVICES will seek more of their basic health care at an Aetna will represent a watershed event in the Providing: Coaching and support for people with Providing: Skilled observation and assessment · expanded CVS Health clinic. history of the American healthcare and health disabilities to get and keep suitable jobs care planning · paraprofessional supervision · ENHANCED SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT clinical monitoring and coordination · CVS operates opver 1,100 MinuteClinics at insurance industries. Providing: Job developing and coaching for medication management · physician·ordered people with any type of disability nursing intervention and skill treatments COMMUNITY PRE-VOC PROGRAM HAMASPIK CHOICE Providing: One-on-one employment preparation day program for high-functioning individuals Providing: A managed long-term care plan (MLTCP) PATHWAY TO EMPLOYMENT approved by New York State YOUR ULTIMATE Providing: One-on-one employment discovery program for high-functioning individuals HCR SOURCE FOR GROUP MEDICAID SERVICE COORDINATION INSURANCE SOLUTIONS! Providing: An advocate for the individual to ACCESS TO HOME access and coordinate available benefits Providing: Home modifications for people with physical disabilities FAMILY CARE PROGRAM Providing: A family to care for an individual with HOME REHABILITATION PROGRAM special needs Providing: Remodeling dilapidated homes for low income home owners INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY (ICF) GROUP Providing: A facility for medically involved NYSED MEDICAL individuals who have developmental disabilty INSURANCE INTENSIVE BEHAVIOR SERVICES (IBS) INTERNATIONAL Providing: Interventional services for people with VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES MEDICAL behavioral issues and their family members Providing: Employment planning · Job development · Job placement INDIVIDUAL PLAN OF CARE SUPPORT SERVICES JOB COACHING GROUP LIFE Providing: Support for families of individuals DENTAL/ with special needs Intensive and ongoing support for individuals with physical, mental and/ or developmental disabilities VISION/LIFE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES to become employed and to maintain employment Providing: Reimbursement for qualifying items or services not covered by Medicaid NYSHA LONG/ PARENTAL RETREATS STATE SHORT TERM Providing: Getaways and retreats for parents of ARTICLE 16 CLINIC MANDATED DISABILITY individuals with disabilities Providing: Physical therapy · occupational therapy DBL/TDB FSA/HSA/ SELF DIRECTION · speech therapy · psychology · social work · Fiscal Intermediary (FI) — providing: psychiatry · nursing · nutrition HRA/ CAFETERIA Accounting and billing for vendors supporting TRAINING SESSIONS individuals who self-direct their own supports Providing: SCIP · CPR and first aid · orientation · PLANS MEDICARE Broker — providing: One-on-one, independent MSC CORE · AMAP · annual updates · Com Hab/ SUPPLEMENT/ brokering of all necessary services and supports Respite · Family Care · Supported employment LONG TERM CARE to individuals who self-direct their own supports CENTRAL INTAKE Providing: The first contact for a person or family in DOH need of Hamaspik services CARE AT HOME THE HAMASPIK GAZETTE Providing: nursing · personal care aides ·therapy Providing: A bilingual monthly newspaper keeping · respite · medical supplies · adaptive technology · the community up-to-date on all major news in service coordination medicine, public health, disability, hospitals, senior care, and general Hamaspik news EARLY INTERVENTION (EI) 888.783.6286 Providing: Full evaluations · home-based, OMH community-based and center-based services CALL FOR YOUR NO-OBLIGATION INSURANCE QUOTE · parent/child groups · ongoing service HEALTH AND RECOVERY PLAN (HARP) HENRY KELLNER & ASSOCIATES coordination · therapy (PT, OT, SLP, vision, Providing: long-term social, emotional, nutrition, play, etc.) · special ed · social work · employment, peer-support and other mental-illness E-mail us at: [email protected] family training/counseling · bilingual providers recovery supports Visit us on the web at: www.ReliableBrokerage.com FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156 HAMASPIK GAZETTE E3

DISABILITY NEWS More Hudson Valley, NYC, Long Island Agencies Signing Up with Tri-County Care New York State OPWDD Urging Unaffiliated Non-profits to Partner with a CCO/HH

sector partner—has also recently been of the CCO/HHs, transferring to the new Put otherwise, the independent new actively encouraging non-profit agencies organizations. MSCs of the new CCO/HHs will ensure that have not yet signed up with a CCO/HH The idea is that MSC services be that each individual gets the most suitable to do so. independent and conflict-free—that is, the doctor, dentist or other basic medical The recently-created CCO/HH entities, MSC connecting the serviced individual service—not just the most suitable housing, as reported by the Gazette in recent months, with the disability services or supports that habilitation, employment and other are New York State’s ‘new and improved’ are best for the individual, regardless of disability support or service. models for services and supports provided which non-profit provides those services. Besides building its infrastructure Tri-County Care continues to grow. The to people with disabilities. The second major change under the new with newly-recruited disability non- Care Coordination Organization/Health Until now, Hamaspik and others like CCO/HH is that people with disabilities will profits, Tri-County Care is also building its Home (CCO/HH) will be launched by the it provided only disability programs, plus also get medical services. infrastructure by laying the groundwork for New York State Hamaspik Association Medicaid Service Coordination (MSC). Under a groundbreaking plan created new offices to open in time for the new CCO/ (NYSHA) come July 2018—and a growing But under the new CCO/HH, people jointly by the OPWDD and the New HH’s full rollout in July of 2018. number of disability services providers with disabilities will continue to get their York State Dept. of Health (DOH), Care Those new workplaces, currently in the throughout the greater Hudson Valley, New disability programs from agencies like Coordinators with the new entities will not works, will give newly-hired Tri-County York City, Long Island and Capital regions Hamaspik and others—but will get their just independently coordinate individuals’ Care Executive Director David Mizrahi and have been signing up with Tri-County Care MSC services strictly from the CCO/HH, not disability services, but also coordinate a his team the space to work most efficiently. as it moves towards opening. from Hamaspik or others. raft of new healthcare services. Most importantly, they will also allow The New York State Office for Medicaid Service Coordinators with Care Coordinators will tend to each Tri-County Care to attain and maintain its People With Developmental Disabilities Hamaspik and other such agencies will individual’s needs in a more global, holistic primary mission: providing conflict-free (OPWDD)—Hamaspik’s long-time public- become Care Coordinators—employees approach. and independent Care Coordination.

HAMASPIK NEWS Breakthrough: OPWDD Grants Hamaspik Brooklyn Three New Residences Trio of Group Homes to Help Relieve Community Disability Housing Shortage

Responding to a call for backup from potential placements is being compiled, Those individuals typically hail from Unlike day-shift workers, he points out, the front lines of disability services, the with those most in need getting priority, he homes with aging parents and increasing “parents never get to go home.” But with New York State Office for People With reports. difficulty of care, he says. the new residences, their children will. Developmental Disabilities approved Hamaspik of Kings County this mid- December for three new community residences for people with disabilities. The long-awaited approval came in a Dec. 12 letter from the OPWDD’s regional office to Mr. Hershel Wertheimer, Executive Director of Hamaspik of Kings County. The approval, along with dozens like it, was also part of a formal announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo the following week outlining the awarding of $58.9 million to 53 agencies, including Hamaspik, to create 83 new homes across the state. MEETING OF THE MINDS: AT 61ST’S GRAND OPENING, BROOKLYN COMMUNITY LEADERS IN CONVERSATION WITH HAMASPIK FOUNDER MEYER WERTHEIMER (R); A BEDROOM AT THE MEN’S RESIDENCE—THEN AS NOW A MODEL OF PERSON-CENTERED COMFORT With an ear keenly tuned to the community’s voice, Hamaspik has been quietly pushing for new group homes for Hamaspik Gazette EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Meyer Wertheimer years now. WRITER: Mendy Hecht Published and Copyrighted January ’18 by: TEL: ‐ ‐ Extensive groundwork for the three NYSHA, Inc. 58 Rt. 59, Suite 1, Monsey, NY 10952 845 503 0213 homes is underway now, says Hamaspik Distributed free. USPS Presorted Non‐profit FAX: 845‐503‐1213 of Kings County Director of Residential Mail Postmaster: Return service requested MAIL: Hamaspik Gazette, 58 Rt. 59, Suite 1, Services Cheskel (Joel) Fisher. A list of © All Rights Reserved Monsey, NY 10952 E4 HAMASPIK GAZETTE FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156

are consistent with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics Happening (AAP). According to the group, the flu vaccine does not contain enough egg protein to cause an allergic reaction, even in people in Health with severe egg allergy—meaning that such Today patients don’t need to see an allergist to get the flu shot, or require a longer-than-usual observation period after the injection.

increasing access to local physical activity WOMEN MAY BE BETTER THAN NEW CANCER DRUG PROMISING facilities and, possibly, reducing access to FLU SHOT SAFE EVEN FOR THOSE MEN AT BATTLING THE FLU FOR WIDE RANGE OF TUMORS fast food close to residential areas could WITH EGG ALLERGY S. John’s, Newfoundland — Fellows, Boston, MA — An experimental new reduce overweight and obesity at the Arlington Heights, IL — According if you feel your wife’s better at getting over drug called ulixertinib has shown potential population level,” said study author Dr. Kate to the newest guidelines from the the flu than you, science now suggests against many tumor types in a small Phase Mason of the London School of Hygiene & I trial of 135 cancer patients who had not Tropical Medicine. responded to earlier treatments. The study analyzed weight-related Ulixertinib works by targeting a genetic data on roughly 400,000 British men and flaw common to most cancer cells. It blocks women between the ages of 40 and 70 from the last link in a chain of “on/off” protein the years 2006 to 2010. signals inside each cancer cell, effectively Researchers measured how closely “turning off” the cell’s ability to replicate. participants lived to sports facilities like According to researchers at gyms, swimming pools and playing fields— Massachusetts General Hospital, ulixertinib finding that, on average, most people lived did seem to spur at least a partial response about a half-mile from a single exercise to the therapy, regardless of cancer type. facility. The trial was funded by drugmaker Researchers determined that those with Biomed Valley Discoveries and published the best access to nearby exercise facilities Dec. 15 in Cancer Discovery. were less overweight than those with poor access. Specifically, living near a minimum PEOPLE LIVING CLOSER TO GYM HAVE NO FEAR, THE FLU SHOT IS HERE! THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ALLERGY, of six such facilities translated into having ASTHMA AND IMMUNOLOGY NOW SAYS THAT EGG-BASED VACCINES ARE SAFE FOR ALL IN BETTER SHAPE: STUDY about a half-inch smaller waist, about a half- London, England — In a new British point lower BMI reading and less body fat. American College of Allergy, Asthma and you’re onto something real. According to study, middle-aged adults and seniors who Guess it’s more than your imagination if Immunology, it’s now safe for people with researcher Dr. Kyle Sue at the Memorial had homes close to gyms and other exercise you're feeling fit living right down the road an egg allergy to get the flu shot. University of Newfoundland, men have a facilities tended to be trimmer than those from your neighborhood gym! Doctors no longer need to question weaker immune response to common viral who didn’t. The report was published Dec. 12 in The patients about egg allergy before giving the respiratory infections and the flu. Dr. Sue “The results of our study suggest that Lancet Public Health. vaccine, the group now says. The guidelines bases that on the statistical fact that men have worse and longer-lasting flu symptoms, and are likelier to be hospitalized for flu.

GENE REPLACEMENT THERAPY COULD CURE HEMOPHILIA Atlanta, GA — Results from a small clinical trial on 13 patients found that hemophilia, or uncontrolled bleeding, was almost entirely eliminated in 11 of them thanks to a new gene replacement therapy. Early results of the therapy for people with hemophilia A, created by BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, were unveiled this December at the annual American Society of Hematology convention.

FISH-EATING KIDS LIVE SMARTER Philadelphia, PA — Regular fish consumption has long been associated with longer life—at least if the “eat fish, live longer” slogan is right. But a new study now indicates that regular fish consumption is associated with higher intelligence, too. A study of the diet habits of 500 kids in China found that those who ate fish at least once weekly scored 4.8 points higher on a common IQ test than those who didn’t. SOMETHING FISHY’S GOING ON WITH THOSE KIDS’ GRADES: AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY’S STUDY OF 500 KIDS IN CHINA FINDS The University of Pennsylvania study THAT THOSE REGULARLY EATING FISH AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK HAD IQ TEST SCORES HIGHER THAN THOSE OF ‘NON-FISHY’ KIDS was published in Scientific Reports. FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156 HAMASPIK GAZETTE E5 The Autism Update News and developments from the world of research and advocacy

RESEARCH AREAS, 2017 BRAIN STIMULATION RESTORES BILL WOULD CREATE MORE payees on behalf of some eight million Among 2017’s many themes in wide- NORMAL SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN OVERSIGHT OF REPRESENTATIVE beneficiaries, according to the SSA. ranging autism biology research were these MICE PAYEES two strains of published studies: Dallas, TX — Brain experiments on Washington, D.C. — Under recently- GRADUATION RATES FOR Early brain development: several mice at UT Southwestern Medical Center introduced Congressional legislation, rep STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES studies showed that brains of infants and found that social impairments in the mice payees, or people legally designated to STILL RISING even newborns later diagnosed with autism were correctable by using a kind of brain collect Social Security payments for people Washington, D.C. — Parents of high- develop differently than do typical babies. stimulation called neuromodulation. with disabilities, would be subject to more schoolers with disabilities, rejoice! Gene therapy: Replacing defective Awkwardness and other social impairments independent and more effective oversight. The National Center for Education genes is making headway in several non- are a common feature of autism. The legislation calls for additional Statistics (NCED) now says that high autism-related conditions in recent times, Research first showed that a specific area reviews of payee performance. It would school graduation rates for students with and in the autism field, several studies this of the part of the brain called the cerebellum require that protection and advocacy groups disabilities continues its upward trend of year underscore gene therapy’s potential for is related to autism. Researchers then in each state handle such evaluations on recent years. reversing various autism-related conditions found a new connection between that part behalf of the Social Security Administration According to figures released in like Rett syndrome. of the cerebellum and the cortex, another (SSA). December by the NCED, a division of the part of the brain. That connection was also The bill would also free parents or federal U.S. Department of Education, POTENTIAL NEW AUTISM DRUG shown to be autism-related. spouses living with a person with a disability 65.5 percent of U.S. high schoolers with SHOWS PROMISE IN MICE Researchers next demonstrated that from having to complete an annual disabilities graduated in 2016, the latest San Diego, CA — Scientists at both mice and humans have that same accounting form for representative payees. year for which data are available. The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) connection—and that the connection is The bill would also codify a policy barring That’s up from 64.6 percent the year have performed a successful test of disrupted in children who have autism. those with certain criminal convictions prior, marking the fifth consecutive year NitroSynapsin, an experimental new drug, They then disrupted that part of the from serving as payees. that the rate has increased. in a mouse model of an autism disorder. cerebellum in mice—resulting in autistic The Strengthening Protections for The improvement for students with In laboratory tests, the drug largely behaviors in the mice. But upon undoing Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2017 disabilities comes as the national graduation corrected electrical, behavioral and brain that disruption using neuromodulation, the was introduced Dec. 8 in the House of rate for all high schoolers reached a record abnormalities in the mice. mice reverted to normal. Representatives by Reps. Sam Johnson high of 84.1 percent. The scientists are now hopeful that Researchers are now seeing if (R-Tex.) and John Larson (D-Conn.). It was As in past years, graduation rates for the drug may one day be able to restore a neuromodulation would be safe for cosponsored by 20 others, including New students with disabilities varied widely brain electrical signaling imbalance found children with autism. The brain stimulation York’s Rep. Brian Higgins (D-26th Dist.) It from state to state, ranging from a low of in virtually all forms of autism spectrum technique has already been used to treat currently has been referred to the House 29.3 in Nevada to a high of 84.3 percent in disorder (ASD). schizophrenia. Committee on Ways and Means. Arkansas. Federal officials have indicated The research was published recently in The research was published in the Dec. About 6.2 million individuals or that reporting differences may contribute Nature Communications. issue of Nature Neuroscience. organizations act as representative to the variation.

NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM HOSTS HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM PROGRAM Brooklyn, NY — Since 2012, a little-known autism program called Subway Sleuths has been operating out of the New York Transit Museum, the Big Apple’s subterranean subway museum located in a former working subway station in downtown Brooklyn. Subway Sleuths was created after museum staff noticed trains’ attraction for children with autism. Kids with the disorder tend to fixate on intricate details like train schedules or parts. Today, Subway Sleuths consists of several weekly after-school programs each school-year semester. Playing detail-oriented clue-hunting group games, children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use maps, signs and other transit history- related clues to learn how better communicate and practice various other social skills. Each group is led by a museum educator, a speech-language path- PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM ologist and a special-ed teacher. E6 HAMASPIK GAZETTE FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156

HAMASPIK NEWS | HAPPENINGS AROUND HAMASPIK Hamaspik Hosts Family Care Providers on Chanukah Eve In a show of gratitude and appreciation event kicked off at 8:00 p.m. and carried on for their love and devotion to their precious for over three fun-filled hours. charges, Hamaspik thanked its elite cadre About 100 guests attended the women- of Family Care providers at an annual only event, mingling first for refreshments Chanukah party. and then sitting down together around tables The fact that the “Chanukah party” was for the ensuing program of entertainment held on Dec. 11 the day before this year’s and inspiration—emceed once again to Chanukah didn’t matter—by the time it was perfection by Hamaspik’s very own Mrs. Happenings over, everyone was squarely in the luminous Brenda Katina. holiday spirit. Participants laughed, cheered, around Held on the premises of the Hamaspik bonded—and came away with enough Terrace social hall at 58 Rt. 59 in Monsey, spiritual light to illuminate any dark Hamaspik of Rockland County’s hub, the moments lying ahead in days to come. Hamaspik Two-home Party on Day Two Hamaspik of Kings Countys 38th St. music, singing and dancing, art projects, Shvesterheim happily hosted its sister and no shortage of fun and games. home, the South 9th Shvesterheim, for a “Everyone had an amazing time,” reports gala party on Chanukah, Day Two. 38th St.’s Mrs. Yona Kasnett—with special The exciting get-together was held on kudos, the Assistant Manager adds, going to What It’s All About Dec. 14 at Hamaspik of Borough Park’s dedicated (and aren’t they all?) staffer Ms. newly-expanded central hub at the corner Herman for singlehandedly presiding over of 14th Ave. and 41st St—and featured food, the party’s planning and setup. Hamaspik Family Care Child Meets Man of the Hour Among the thousands of community 27-year sentence recently came to a joyous members celebrating President Donald and unexpected end. And this past Dec. J. Trump’s commutation of a sentence 20, he joined the hundreds spontaneously universally viewed as grossly excessive was converging on a humble Monsey home to a precious little boy with Down syndrome congratulate Mr. Rubashkin in person. who also benefits from Hamaspik of Mr. Rubashkin, himself the proud Rockland County’s successful and still- father of a young adult with disabilities, was growing Family Care program. visibly moved—and took the time to share HOMECOMING VALUES: TIME STOPS AS SHOLOM RUBASHKIN, HIMSELF THE FATHER OF The child had long wanted to personally a few beautiful moments with a beautiful A SON WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SHOWS HIS TRUEST COLORS TO A MOST SPECIAL VISITOR meet Sholom Rubashkin, the man whose human being. On the Front Lines “Oh, Yes, Oh, No, There is No Doubt! The Finest Fire is the Fire That’s Out!” That bit of doggerel comes to mind Schools, and schoolchildren of all when reporting on the Kiryas Joel Fire ages, are quite the common sight at Department (KJFD)’s recent visitors: The firehouses everywhere, and for good gentlemen attending Hamaspik’s Day reason: You want to teach them that Habilitation programs in Orange and while firefighters are your friends, fire Rockland Counties. isn’t. While hardly their first time at what And in visiting their friendly is probably the world’s only all-Chasidic neighborhood firehouse, the Hamaspik volunteer fire department, the young contingent got to try sitting in real men getting a very hands-on tour of fire trucks, lights and all—and hear the several trucks at KJFD’s garage were from friendly volunteer neighborhood FIREFIGHTERS FOR A DAY: THE GENTLEMEN OF HAMASPIK’S DAY HABILITATION exposed once again not just to fire- firefighters all about community fire PROGRAMS IN ORANGE AND ROCKLAND GET A FIRST-HAND FEEL FOR FIRE SAFETY fighting but to fire prevention. safety and prevention, too. FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156 HAMASPIK GAZETTE E7

HAMASPIK NEWS | HAPPENINGS AROUND HAMASPIK Hamaspik’s Direct Support A Well-Rounded Chanukah Professionals (DSPs) Approved for Community Nursing Tasks

On Dec. 4, 2017, a brief e-mail from The approval is important because it the New York State Office for People With grants considerable medical authority to Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to Hamaspik DSPs who support individuals in Hamaspik of Rockland County greenlighted non-certified community settings—in plain the agency’s new level of care for people English, meaning supermarkets, doctors’ with disabilities. offices, day trips or locations otherwise The e-mail, from OPWDD Standards outside of Hamaspik facilities. Compliance Analyst Ellie Smith, confirmed The community delegated nursing that Hamaspik of Rockland County was services provision grants a lot more freedom approved to provide community delegated and flexibility to the Hamaspik DSPs out in nursing services. the field on the front lines of care. In plain English, that means that Without the approval, DSPs would have EMOTIONAL: VOCALIST ARELE SAMET AND KEYBOARDIST MEIR ADLER (BACKED BY Hamaspik’s DSPs are now allowed to to summon an on-call agency RN in the HAMASPIK’S VERY OWN MOSHE FRIED ON TRUMPET) HAVE BEEN VISITING FOR YEARS do certain medical care procedures on event of any minimal medical need that individuals with disabilities that otherwise requires professional know-how. only a nurse is allowed to do. But with the new approval, duly trained But to allow them to do so, the agency DSPs at Hamaspik of Rockland County’s employing the DSPs must have a detailed popular and successful After-School written plan in place. Hamaspik’s plan was Respite (ASR) program, for example, can professionally written by Coordinator of now change a non-sterile dressing or even Governance Affairs Mrs. Paskes. provide basic respiratory care for the boys The plan requires an agency registered and girls they support every day. nurse (RN) to review the medical needs The approval is also sure to build of the individual(s) in question, and then on Hamaspik’s existing track record of SPIRITUAL: A GUEST SPEAKER INSPIRES PHYSICAL: A HAMASPIK OF ROCKLAND select and train DSPs in the involved medical compliance, with the agency’s residential LISTENERS AT HAMASPIK OF ROCKLAND COUNTY ‘DAY HABBER’ STAYS IN SHAPE procedures. Once the nurse oversees and day program DSPs fully versed in all the DSP(s) satisfactorily performing the current rules and regulations. procedure(s) in question and signs off on it, The approval just makes their excellent A Look at Life-Skills Learning the DSP is good to go. work a little easier to do. An En-“Light”-ened Holiday at South 9th

Hamaspik of Kings County’s South 9th Green, yellow and red were everywhere: Shvesterheim, for its part, marked every Three color-coded napkins at each setting, Chanukah night with a light-themed party— tri-colored pasta and fruit dishes, and even including that Dec. 19th, the holiday’s last a traffic safety game. Guess when Chanukah night, which brought the festival to a close comes to a stop, going green (and yellow and with a theme built around traffic lights. red) is the way to go!

Com Hab Participants Practice Life Skills at Weekend Camp Retreat

Dozens of youths benefiting from young participants’ mainstream life skills— Hamaspik of Orange County’s Community helping those who were determined to most Habilitation (Com Hab) program recently need it to practice such ordinary things enjoyed an exciting self-care weekend like making beds or setting and clearing retreat upstate. dinner tables, among other integration, Through Com Hab, hundreds of communication and social activities. people with disabilities—including no A summer camp-like atmosphere small number of young people—get the pervaded the entire event, as staff—which acclimating community exposure they need was one-on-one for most “campers”— to live their best possible lives. turned chores things like tooth-brushing, The Nov. 17-20 weekend event was held bed-making and the like into fun activities. on the premises of Camp Nageela in South Kids came home grinning ear to ear— COMMUNITY HABILITATION: IN THIS COLLECTION OF RECENT PHOTOS, INDIVIDUALS Fallsburg, New York. and armed with impressive new ‘round-the- SUPPORTED ACROSS HAMASPIK’S PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATE A VARIETY OF INTEGRA- The goal of the event was to further the house know-how, too. TION-ORIENTED SKILLS PRACTICE, FROM BAKING AND COOKING TO SHOPPING E8 HAMASPIK GAZETTE FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156

HAMASPIK NEWS Young People Have Great Time at Hamaspik’s ‘Kids-First’ Respite Shabbaton

Dozens of children and teenagers besides Hamaspik, was a textbook example And back home, eminently relieved respites from the rigors of special-needs benefiting from the OPWDD’s Respite of a site-based weekend respite event. parents were enjoying their richly deserved parenting. programs recently enjoyed another exciting Event logistics A to Z were capably and fun-filled Shabbaton hotel weekend handled once again by Hamaspik Special hosted by Hamaspik of Rockland County. Events Coordinator Mrs. Brenda Katina, The event, held Nov. 24-26 at the Crowne in partnership with Hamaspik of Rockland Plaza Hotel, hosted a group of youths who County women’s Day Hab Director Mrs. regularly attend Respite programs in the Esty Schonfeld. Mrs. Schonfeld planned greater Hudson Valley. and executed all staffing arrangements well Respite is a suite of services offered in advance. Special thanks also go to Mr. to parents of children with disabilities, and Mrs. Avrumie and Goldie Holczler, who offering them quality care and supervision respectively served as event EMT and onsite of their kids in several approved settings coordinator. while they enjoy much-needed breaks. From Friday-afternoon arrival welcome Hamaspik has long provided packages through dancing to a live band beneficiaries of every agency besides its Saturday night, the children had a great own with a good number of “Waiver” time. Under professional supervision by services, so dubbed for the standard rules Hamaspik counselors, guests ate, played, that they waive for people to qualify. And sang and laughed together, enjoying group the Shabbaton, which hosted children games, meals and camaraderie in a summer POSITIVELY FLOORED: A YOUNG GUEST ENJOYS THE PROVIDED PUZZLES AND TOYS serviced by several regional nonprofits camp-like atmosphere.

HEALTHY EATING

EASY YIELDS: 6 SERVINGS ADVANCED YIELDS: 15-20 BLINIS EASY YIELDS: 8-10 SERVINGS Butternut PREP TIME: 0:10 COOKING: 1:30 READY IN: 1:45 READY IN: 0:20 PREP TIME: 0:10 COOKING: :45 READY IN: 1:00 Squash

Butternut Butternut Butternut Squash Dish Squash Blini Squash Soup

THIS IS ONE OF MY SIGNATURE DISHES. AWESOME GLUTEN-FREE SUBSTITUTE QUICK AND EASY SOUP KIDS AND ADULTS LOVE IT! FOR PANCAKES! FOR ANY OCCASION!

INGREDIENTS: INGREDIENTS: INGREDIENTS: • 1 Butternut squash • 1 teaspoon garlic • 1 Cup mashed • 1 scoop vanilla sugar • 1 0nion diced • 3 sweet potatoes • Salt to taste powder butternut squash, • ½ tsp baking soda • 3 tablespoons oil - cubed • Dash of pepper • 2 tablespoons cooked • ¼ tsp salt for sautéing • Salt to taste • Cooking spray oil honey • 4 eggs • Dash of pepper • 3 cloves fresh garlic • ½ tsp cinnamon • ¾ cup almond flour • ½ tsp cinnamon • 1 butternut squash • ½ tsp nutmeg DIRECTIONS: • 2 tbsps honey • ¼ tsp nutmeg cubed or 2 bags frozen • Parsley flakes • Cube butternut squash and place in • Water 9x13 baking pan DIRECTIONS: • Spray some cooking spray oil DIRECTIONS: • Season with salt, black pepper, garlic • Blend all ingredients together • Sauté onion and garlic powder • Heat skillet and spray cooking oil • Add cubed butternut squash and sweet • Pour honey on top • Add 2 heaping tablespoons of batter; potatoes sauté for a few minutes, stirring • Cover well flip each over after a minute or two (as every few seconds • Bake at 420 for 1 hour you would usually do with pancakes) • Fill pot with water, just to cover • Uncover and bake for another ½ hour the butternut squash • Season with salt, cinnamon, nutmeg Cook for about 45 min, or until CHEF’S TIP: • BENEFITS: everything is soft Butternut squash delivers an ample dose of dietary fiber and is low in fat, making it For easy peeling and cutting • Blend with an immersion blender exceptionally heart-friendly. It provides significant amounts of potassium, important microwave for 5 minutes or bake till smooth for bone health, and vitamin B6, essential for the proper functioning of the nervous and at 420° for 15 minutes. Garnish with parsley flakes immune systems. •

© 2018 Recipes by Mrs. Chana G. Laufer For all your personal cooking and catering needs, contact [email protected] FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156 HAMASPIK GAZETTE E9

HEALTH NEWS HAMASPIK NEWS Schizophrenia Drug Abilify To Fill Critical Community Now FDA-Approved for Digital Niche, Monsey Parents Tracker You Swallow Reach for the STARS Biodegradable “Smart Pill” Tech Around Since early 2010s; Market Booming Hamaspik’s High-function Adult Day Program Hosts Open House A pill that can signal a computer In January of 2016, the California-based that you’ve taken your medicine sounds Barton health system began using Proteus You’d be forgiven if you were hard- options. Schools and programs for typical farfetched. Discover for hypertension patients— pressed to find the young adults with individuals were out. But “ingestibles,” or tiny electronic become the first U.S. user of that system. disabilities in the room. But so were more-involved daytime tracking devices inside pills that you Proteus Discover has been in use at the But like their place in society, where they support services for individuals on lower swallow, made headlines again on Nov. 13, Children’s Health hospital system in Dallas, match none of disability’s stereotypes, the function levels, where both individuals when the FDA approved the MyCite system Texas since February of this year. Doctors young women and proud STARS regulars and their families would feel socially and for use with Abilify. there use ingestible trackers to remotely didn’t stand out here, either. emotionally out of place. Abilify is an existing drug made by monitor medication adherence in a group of It was the Dec. 6 open house event at the If ever there was a call for a community Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical. It was FDA- teen patients who’ve had organ transplants. Hamaspik Terrace social hall at 58 Rt. 59 in need then unmet, it was here. And that’s approved in 2002 to treat schizophrenia, a Children’s Health was also reported to be the heart of Monsey. where Hamaspik stepped in. mental-health disorder affecting nearly one working with Proteus to expand the number On hand were Hamaspik’s very own Since the inception of STARS (the percent of Americans. of medications that can be co-encapsulated Mrs. Esty Schonfeld, director of its STARS program celebrates its second anniversary MyCite is made by California-based with the sensor. program for high-functioning adults, and this month), young women have been Proteus Digital Health. MyCite consists In recent years, MIT researchers the capable lieutenants that are her staff: discreetly picked up each day in their own of an ingestible sensor, a skin patch and a essentially created a tiny ingestible Ms. Schuff, Mrs. Knobloch and Mrs. Kohn, logo-marked van and shuttled to 221 Rt. 59 smartphone app. stethoscope. The silicone capsule, as well as STARS night program director Ms. in Spring Valley, home to the contemporary The MyCite sensor is one square roughly the size of a multivitamin, holds Mendlowitz, who spearheaded the event. STARS center. millimeter, the size of a sand grain. It’s made a tiny microphone, data processor and They were playing gracious hostesses to Two options are currently being of digestible metals copper and magnesium. transmitter that collects and broadcasts a host of enthralled mothers, both of current operated: A daytime program from 9:00 It’s contained in the Abilify pill. heart and lung sounds from inside the body. and future members, who were on hand to a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and a nighttime track The small MyCite skin patch contains a And Scripps Health is currently developing learn first-hand what STARS is and what it from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. battery and a signal receiver/transmitter. It tiny sensors that travel the bloodstream to does. And did those guests ever learn! Once inside, staff spends several hours is worn on the patient’s torso. send messages to a smartphone, alerting working with the young ladies—help The MyCite smartphone app helps the user of signs of infection, an impending REACHING FOR THE STARS them gain such vital life skills as personal patients track their daily pill usage and heart attack or other cardiovascular issues. The STARS program, powered as computing, cooking and baking, personal communicate with their doctors. it is by Hamaspik of Rockland County, finance and budgeting, shopping and even The sensor in the Abilify pill is activated BOOMING MARKET was conceived and realized in response knitting and crocheting. by electrolytes in the digestive system. It Ingestible sensing capsules are fast to a sensitive and growing need in the The hands-on life-skills practice is transmits a signal to the patch. The patch emerging as a critical technology that community Hamaspik serves. augmented by such recreational outings like sends a signal to the smartphone app. The has the ability to greatly impact health, Parents of post-high-school young bowling—all of which not only boost self- app then sends a signal to the doctor. nutrition, and clinical areas. adults with high-function and minimal esteem and social bonds, but also acclimate With the FDA approval, Otsuka and For example, they can reveal the state disabilities were at a loss for long-term CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 >> Proteus hope that Abilify MyCite will help of gut health and disorders as well as the more schizophrenia patients stay on top of impact of food, medical supplements, their vital daily medication. and environmental changes on the However, both companies note that the gastrointestinal tract. system is not perfect and pill detection may Most ingestible sensors are currently be delayed or may not occur—meaning that used to measure inner body or organ Abilify MyCite should not be used to track temperatures, pressures and pH levels. real-time pill ingestion. Other smart pills, equipped with tiny cameras, actually take photos of internal NEW USE, NEW(-ISH) TECH organs. Smart pill technology has actually been Most importantly, the ingestible devices around since the early 2010s in several are noninvasive. FDA-approved mainstream usages. And with widespread access to smart The concept of Abilify MyCite and phones connected to the Internet, the data other smart pill systems is to help adults produced by the technology can be readily remember if they’ve taken their daily seen and reviewed online, and accessed by medications—or help parents or doctors both users and physicians. know if children have not taken their The ingestible sensor market is growing medications (even if they insist that they due to the need for real-time patient have!). monitoring, medication adherence, and Technological confirmation that an increasing number of cases of chronic medication is being taken is important: It diseases, as well as improved accuracy in helps keep doctors from concluding that invasive diagnosis tests. “taken” medication is not working, thus According to a report on ingestible preventing the changing of dosages or sensors earlier this year, the market is medications prescribed. expected to grow from 2015’s $198 million The Proteus Discover sensor patch was to $678 million by 2022. initially approved by the FDA in 2010. The Another recent report actually pegged ingestible sensor pill won FDA clearance in the market’s 2017 figures at over $900 TAKING A STAND: STARS ATTENDEES SHINE FROM A COLORFUL DISPLAY (TOP), WHILE July of 2012. million. GUESTS ENJOYED A FEAST FOR THE EYES (AND MOUTH) AT A TASTY FALAFEL STATION E10 HAMASPIK GAZETTE FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156

built a full-scale mock convenience store in Analytics released a report saying that bipartisan bill that was President Barack a Pittsburgh mall—complete with full-size depression, hypertension, diabetes, high Obama’s last piece of signed legislation. graphic anti-smoking posters. cholesterol and substance use disorders “We began with one goal in mind: Teens who expressed little or no desire are responsible for 30 percent of adverse helping patients and their families,” to smoke in pre-exposure surveys were little health among those covered by Blue Cross wrote Cures co-authors Reps. Fred Upton affected by the graphic posters. But teens and Blue Shield companies. (R-Mich.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.). considered at high risk for smoking based The report also suggests that mental The Cures Act currently funds four on their pre-exposure surveys appeared health conditions such as depression, major National Institutes of Health to want to smoke more after seeing the anxiety and affective disorder may be (NIH) initiatives: the Beau Biden Cancer posters. under-diagnosed in many places. Moonshot; the Precision Medicine “We went into the study with the idea Initiative; the Brain Research through that the graphic posters would diminish STATE DOH: NEW YORK FLU Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies kids’ desire to smoke, and when SEASON STRONG (BRAIN) Initiative; and the Regenerative we analyzed the data we were Medicine Innovation Project, which aims to shocked to find that this Albany, NY — According to a Dec. 14 accelerate the field of stem cell science. was not the case,” RAND statement by the New York State Dept. of “Today is a day to reflect on how far we researcher William Shadel, PhD, told Public MedPage Today. According to Dr. Shadel, Health smoking-risk teens may want to smoke more And after seeing the Policy posters because they respond defensively to News them, “causing them to discount or downplay health risks.” The study findings were published Dec. 13 in Nicotine & Tobacco Research. SIGN OF THE TIMES: EVERY NEW YORKER SHOULD BE VACCINATED AGAINST THE FLU In related news, the NIH’s newly- VIRUS, ESPECIALLY VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, SENIORS, AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS released annual Monitoring the Future survey finds that nearly one in three U.S. GRAPHIC WARNINGS STOKE 12th Graders reported use of some kind of Health (DOH), flu is now prevalent across have come, but also a reminder that we have TEEN SMOKING: STUDY vaping device last year. While teen smoking the state—and everyone should get the flu much work left to do,” wrote Upton and is dropping, teen vaping—or usage of shot. DeGette. “Patients and their families are Santa Monica, CA — Anti-smoking electronic cigarettes (e-cigs)—is rising. With the announcement that this year’s counting on us.” advocates consider graphic images of the seasonal influenza virus is “prevalent,” terrible effects of cigarette smoking to be MOODY’S TAKES STOCK OF health care workers who haven’t had a flu CHRISTIE: DOCS SHOULD NEED highly effective in keeping people from PUBLIC HEALTH shot are now legally required to wear masks ONGOING OPIOID TRAINING taking up smoking. around patients. But an unusual study by the legendary New York, NY — Ask a Wall Street The announcement reflects the U.S. flu Baltimore, MD — According to former RAND Corporation indicates that, with institution to take stock of U.S. public season this year, which officials at the CDC New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, physicians vulnerable teens who never smoked before, health—and 30 percent of national adverse have said could be tougher than usual. should be required to take continuing the graphic images actually encourage them health traceable to just five conditions is Influenza is a serious illness whose education classes on opioid prescribing if to start smoking. what you get. season occurs primarily from October they want to keep their official prescribing Researchers at the famous think tank On Dec. 14, industry pillar Moody’s through May, often peaking in February. It licenses. is not too late to get vaccinated, and there Christie, who chaired the President’s are ample amounts of the vaccine available. Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, made AFFORDABLE CARE ACT 2018 the recommendation at a late-November SIGNUPS HIT 8.8 MILLION Congressional field hearing at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Washington, DC — As of Jan. 1, 2018, “As a lawyer, I have to take continuing with open enrollment closed for the year, education to maintain my license,” Christie some 8.8 million people had signed up for said. an Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance “How is it that physicians could have plan through HealthCare.gov. a DEA license and not be required to take Last year’s total enrollment in continuing medical education on this HealthCare.gov plans was 9.2 million. problem when 64,000 people died from it last year?” 21ST CENTURY CURES ACT MARKS 1ST YEAR FDA APPROVALS

Washington, DC — A Dec. 12 joint Luxturna, gene therapy for rare PACKING IN A MESSAGE: DESPITE BLUNT WORDING AND IMAGERY, A STUDY FOUND editorial in hailed the first vision-loss disorders called biallelic retinal THAT AT-RISK TEENS WERE ACTUALLY LIKELIER TO SMOKE AFTER SEEING SUCH SIGNS 12 months of the 21st Century Cures Act, a dystrophy, Dec. 19 FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156 HAMASPIK GAZETTE E11

for four services by $3.1 billion. According to the study, conducted by Avalere Health for the Physicians Advocacy Status Report Institute (PAI), Medicare paid $2.7 billion more for four specific cardiology, orthope- dic and gastroenterology services in hos- pital outpatient settings over independent Happening physicians’ offices. Medicare beneficiaries also paid $411 In Hospitals million more in out-of-pocket costs for those services than they would have spent in independent physicians’ offices.

HEALTH IT PROS PAID 20 Today PERCENT LESS IN 2017 Centennial, CO — A recent survey by Health eCareers shows that the average health information technology (IT) profes- sional salary for year 2017 is 20 percent less EAST HARLEM’S $300-MILLION Satisfaction Report. CANCER CENTER NEARS But an RNnetwork study earlier this year COMPLETION found that 70 percent of nurses feel burnt New York, NY — It’s been nine years in out, with half considering leaving the pro- the making, but the New York Proton Center fession. is finally nearing completion. And when it The traditional hospital nurse industry opens, it will be Manhattan’s first. is apparently taking the hardest hit. Accord- The high-tech facility, built around three ing to a Kronos Incorporated survey earlier 300-ton gantries rotating around patients this year, 83 percent of surveyed nurses re- to deliver precision radiation, is located at ported that hospitals are losing good nurses 126th St. in Manhattan’s East Harlem neigh- because non-hospital employers offer a bet- borhood. It’s expected to see its first patient ter work/life balance. in February of 2019, as well as employ 125 So what’s going on in today’s nursing? people and see some 1,400 patients a year. In short, increased technology and in- The New York Proton Center is a joint creased workload. project of Memorial Sloan Kettering Can- Nurses today, like doctors, are spending cer Center, Montefiore Health System and an increasing amount of time using comput- Mount Sinai Health System. ers and other technology, which many feel KEEPING COMPUTERS HEALTHY: IT PROFESSIONALS ARE GETTING PAID LESS The advantage of proton-beam therapy gets in the way of direct patient care. And over traditional radiation oncology in treat- on top of that, four of every five nurses play rooms in the stores, allowing patients to than that of 2016. Health IT pros earned an ing cancer is that it offers another degree of a larger role in patient care management access quick real-time audio/video exam- average of $73,117 this past year, according precision, primarily by helping oncologists today than even two years ago, said a 2016 inations and diagnoses of non-threatening to the survey. limit radiation exposure to nearby healthy survey by the University of Phoenix. illnesses or injuries. While hospitals are investing heavily in tissue. Exams will be provided by clinicians healthcare IT, they aren’t necessarily paying There are about 25 proton-beam cancer WALGREENS OPENING NYP at NYP OnDemand Urgent Care. Pediatric top dollar for top IT pros. treatment centers nationwide, with another TELEMEDICINE KIOSKS emergency physicians will also be available One reason for the decline may be hos- ten under development. New York, NY — NewYork-Presbyteri- during limited hours. pitals’ replacing high-paid consultants with cheaper in-house staff. On the other hand, the survey also found that salaries for health IT executives rose in 2017, with the median annual pay of $150,250 up from 2016’s $127,500.

DIGNITY/CHI MERGER WOULD CREATE BIGGEST U.S. NONPROFIT HOSPITAL SYSTEM Chicago, IL — In early December, Dig- nity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives signed a definitive agreement to merge— which would create the largest non-profit U.S. hospital system by operating revenue. The new health system would boast op- erations in 28 states and comprise over 139 hospitals, 25,000 doctors and other clini- cians, and a total of 159,000 employees. A PLACE OF HIGH-TECH HEALING: ARTIST’S RENDITION OF THE CENTER (IMAGE COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK PROTON CENTER) It would generate a combined annual revenue of $28.4 billion. NURSING: IN CHANGING an Hospital is partnering with Walgreens to MORE MEDICARE COSTS The new health system will also estab- INDUSTRY, SURVEYS CLASH provide its telemedicine services in its retail CREATED BY HOSPITAL- lish its corporate headquarters in Chicago New York, NY — Over 90 percent of locations. The first NYP telemedicine kiosk EMPLOYED PHYSICIANS and operate under a new name that will be U.S. nurses say they would choose nursing will open in a Duane Reade convenience Washington, DC — A new study says chosen in the second half of 2018. Local fa- as a career if they knew then what they know store on Wall Street in Manhattan. that between 2012 and 2015, hospital-em- cilities will continue operating under their now, says the 2017 Medscape Nurse Career The kiosks will be located in private ployed physicians increased Medicare costs current names. E12 DISEASE CROHN’S ABOUT… ALL Prevention (CDC) for DiseaseControl and MedlinePlus, U.S. Centers Mayo Clinic,WebMD, Information sources: In the Know HAMASPIK GAZETTE nutrients tokeep thepatientnourished. to eatorfortheintestineabsorb enough cramping may make itdifficultforthepatient Malnutrition. Diarrhea,abdominal painand threatening ifnottreated. and formanabscess,which canbelife- some cases,afistulamay becomeinfected drainage ofbowel contentstotheskin.In or outthroughtheskin,causingcontinuous loops ofbowel, intothebladderorelsewhere, absorption. Fistulasmay occurbetween areas ofthebowel thatarenecessary for develop intheabdomen, foodmay bypass between differentbody parts.When fistulas creating afistula—an abnormalconnection completely throughtheintestinalwall, Fistulas. Sometimesulcerscanextend tract, including themouth. open sores(ulcers) anywhere inthedigestive Ulcers. Chronicinflammationcanleadto may block theflow ofdigestive contents. parts ofthebowel canscarandnarrow, which thickness oftheintestinalwall. Over time, Bowel obstruction.Crohn’s affectsthe the following complications: Crohn’s diseasemay lead tooneormoreof Complications children. ducts, anddelayed growth ordevelopment in inflammation ofskin,eyes, joints,liver orbile Other signsandsymptoms include tion fromatunnelintotheskin(fistula). near oraroundtheopeningduetoinflamma- petite andweight loss,and painordrainage sores, reducedap- discharge, mouth cramping, bloody dominal painand fever, fatigue,ab- include diarrhea, Active symptoms not uncommon. remission arealso severe. Periodsof range frommildto warning. Thesecan suddenly without sometimes comeon gradually but usually develop Crohn’s symptoms SYMPTOMS with Crohn’s diseaseareabletofunctionwell. remission. With treatment,many people symptoms—and even bringaboutlong-term treatments cangreatly reducesignsand While there’s noknown cure,various may complications. leadtolife-threatening both painfulanddebilitating,sometimes into thelayers affectedtissue.Crohn’s canbe Crohn’s inflammationoftenspreadsdeep and malnutrition. pain, severe diarrhea,fatigue,weight loss digestive tract,which canleadtoabdominal Crohn’s diseasecausesinflammationofthe disease (IBD). Crohn’s diseaseisaninflammatorybowel INTRODUCTION disease, sogenesmay play arole. people whohave family memberswiththe history, butCrohn’s ismorecommonin Most peoplewithCrohn’s don’t have afamily Heredity causes ittoattack thedigestive tract. fight offaninvader, anabnormalresponse it.Whentrigger theimmunesystem triesto It’s possiblethatavirusorbacteriummay Immune system system, likely play aroleinitsdevelopment. heredity andamalfunctioningimmune unknown. Anumberoffactors,such as The exactcauseofCrohn’s diseaseremains CAUSES more frequently. doctors iftheyneedthattestearlierand age 50. Crohn’s patientsshouldasktheir a colonoscopy every tenyears beginningat colon cancerscreeningguidelinescallfor colon increaseriskofcancer. General Colon cancer. Thedisease’s effectsonthe only toreliefbutalso tolong-termremission. In best-case scenario, treatmentmay leadnot term prognosisby limitingcomplications. behind thesymptoms andimprove long- treatment istoreducetheinflammation works foreveryone. ThegoalofCrohn’s With Crohn’s, thereisnoonetreatmentthat TREATMENT insides ofthesmallbowel. which allows doctorsabetter viewofthe orballoon-assisted enteroscopy,in apill); MRI scans;capsuleendoscopy (atiny camera tiny cameraonaninsertedtube;CTand/or looks attheentireinsideofcolonwitha Procedures include: colonoscopy, which cell count),infection,orfecalblood. Blood redblood testswilltestforanemia(low combination ofany ofthefollowing: To diagnoseCrohn’s, adoctorwilllikely usea for signsandsymptoms areruledout. diagnosed only afterother possiblecauses Crohn’s disease.Crohn’s islikely tobe There isnosingletesttospecifically diagnose DIAGNOSIS B-12 deficiencyassociatedwithCrohn’s. Vitamin B-12 shotscounteractthevitamin from chronic intestinalbleeding. counteract irondeficiencyanemiaresulting Iron supplementsmay beneededto symptoms worse. or naproxen sodiumarelikely tomake naproxen Aleve). Ibuprofen sodium(like Advilon ibuprofen(like orMotrinIB) or but nototherOTC painrelievers based (Tylenol, others) may berecommended— painrelievers(OTC) like acetaminophen Crohn’s, too. has alsobeenshown tobeusefulintreating other drugs). ApsoriasisdrugcalledStelara Trexall (forpeoplewhodon’t respondwell to or inhibitors (Cimzia,HumiraorRemicade), Imuran, PurinetholorPurixan);TNF immunosuppressants(Azasan,widely used); term); oral5-aminosalicylate drugs(not corticosteroids (usually prescribedshort- first treatmentforCrohn’s. Theyinclude Anti-inflammatory drugsareoftenthe Anti-inflammatory drugs CROHN’S DISEASE. AS POSSIBLEABOUT YOURSELF AS MUCH EXPERT—TO TEACH BECOME ACROHN’S IN CONTROL ISTO WAYS TO BEMORE ONE OFTHEBEST BE INFORMED. Cipro andFlagyl. Frequently prescribedantibioticsinclude abscesses inpeoplewithCrohn’s disease. drainage andsometimeshealfistulas Antibiotics canreducetheamountof Antibiotics FEBRUARY ’18 Over-the-counter severe cases. be effective formore Imodium A-D may moderate diarrhea. help relieve mildto Metamucil can like Citrucelor Fiber supplements and symptoms. relieve othersigns cations may help tion, somemedi- trolling inflamma- In additiontocon- medications Other • ISSUE NO. 156 FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156 HAMASPIK GAZETTE E13

Medication risks inflammatory bowel disease find that intolerant. to digest or absorb fat normally. Try avoiding Certain Crohn’s drugs that block functions symptoms improve by limiting or eliminating Try low-fat foods. People with Crohn’s butter, margarine, cream sauces, fried foods of the immune system are associated with a dairy products—you may be lactose disease of the small intestine may be unable and other food items containing fat. small risk of cancers like lymphoma or skin Limit fiber. High-fiber foods like as fresh cancers. They also increase risk of infection. fruits and vegetables and whole grains, may Work with your doctor to determine risks worsen symptoms of inflammatory bowel and benefits of various medications. disease. Instead, try steaming, baking, or Corticosteroids can be associated with a risk stewing your fresh fruits and vegetables of osteoporosis, bone fractures, cataracts, instead. glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure, Spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine are also among others. known for possibly making signs and Entyvio and Tysabri work by stopping certain symptoms worse. immune cell molecules from binding to other cells in the intestinal lining. But because Other dietary measures Tysabri is associated with a rare but serious Eat smaller meals. Patients may find that risk of a certain brain disease that usually eating five or six small meals a day rather leads to death or severe disability, patients than two or three larger ones leaves them must be enrolled in a special restricted feeling better. distribution program to use it. Drink plenty of liquids daily—water is best! Drinks that contain caffeine, like coffee or Nutrition therapy soft drinks, can stimulate your intestines In some cases, a doctor may recommend and make diarrhea worse. What’s worse, a special diet via feeding tube (enteral many caffeine-containing soft drinks are nutrition) or nutrients injected into a vein carbonated, too, which frequently produces (parenteral nutrition) to treat Crohn’s gas that only exacerbates Crohn’s symptoms. disease. This can improve overall nutrition Consider multivitamins. Because Crohn’s and allow the bowel to rest. Bowel rest can can interfere with the ability to absorb reduce short-term inflammation. nutrients, especially on a limited Crohn’s The doctor may prescribe a combination of diet, multivitamin and mineral supplements short-term nutrition therapy and medications are often helpful in terms of keeping your like immune system suppressors. Enteral body's vitamin levels healthy. and parenteral nutrition are typically used to See a dietitian. A professional registered get people healthier prior to surgery or when dietitian will help you develop a diet and meal other medications fail to control symptoms. plan based on foods that agree with your The doctor may also recommend a low- system if you begin to lose weight or your diet residue or low-fiber diet to reduce the risk of has become very limited. intestinal blockage where the patient has a Don’t smoke! Smoking increases risk of narrowed bowel (stricture). developing Crohn’s—and once you have it, smoking can make it worse. Smokers with Surgery Crohn’s are likelier to have relapses and need Doctors may recommend surgery if diet and medications and repeat surgeries. lifestyle changes, drug therapy, or other Stress. Stress doesn’t cause Crohn’s—but can treatments don’t relieve signs and symptoms. make signs and symptoms worse and trigger Almost half of Crohn’s patients will need at flare-ups. Learn ways to help manage stress, least one surgery—but surgery does not cure like exercise, biofeedback and relaxation and Crohn’s disease. breathing exercises. In surgery, the surgeon will remove a damaged portion of the digestive tract and PROGNOSIS then reconnect healthy sections. Surgery may also be used to close fistulas and drain Crohn’s disease doesn’t just affect patients abscesses. physically—it takes an emotional toll as well. Also, the benefits of Crohn’s surgery are If signs and symptoms are severe, life may usually temporary. Unfortunately, the disease revolve around a constant need to use the often recurs, frequently near reconnected facilities—even mild symptoms can make it tissue. As such, the best approach is to follow difficult to be out in public. All these factors surgery with medication to minimize the risk can alter life and even lead to depression. But of recurrence. here are some things you can do: Be informed. One of the best ways to be more Diet in control is to become a Crohn’s expert— While there is no evidence that what you to teach yourself as much as possible about eat actually causes Crohn’s disease, certain Crohn’s disease. foods and beverages can aggravate signs and Join a support group. Although support symptoms, especially during a flare-up. groups aren’t for everyone, they can provide Therefore, it can be helpful to track what you valuable information about your condition as eat and drink every day, and how food/drink well as emotional support. Group members makes you feel, by keeping a food diary. Your frequently know about the latest medical food diary may help you discover which food treatments or integrative therapies. You may or drink cause symptoms to flare, allowing also find it reassuring to be with others with you to try eliminating them. Crohn’s disease. In the meantime, here are some helpful At the end of the day, although living with suggestions: Crohn’s disease can be discouraging, research Limit dairy products. Many people with is ongoing—and the outlook is improving. E14 HAMASPIK GAZETTE FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156

HAMASPIK NEWS Exciting Pre-Chanukah Party for Hamaspik of Orange County’s Women’s Group Homes Event Held Dec. 6 at Hamaspik Terrace hall; Full Residential Staff Also in Attendance

Not only is every successful state resident is central to the OPWDD residential After some 45 minutes of speaking to was seated, fresh hot pizza and French fries audit of a Hamaspik program a cause for audit, the auditors chose to meet with each each individual young woman, the OPWDD were served. celebration, a recent one took place during Bakertown resident a day early—to catch officials came away “extremely impressed,” Guests next enjoyed “the Shmelky a Hamaspik celebration. them in action out and about in the thick of reports Bakertown Manager Mrs. Appel. Show,” a one-man live children’s show by On Wednesday, Dec. 6, Hamaspik of community-oriented programming. The party then proceeded as planned. the costumed performer of that same stage Orange County’s Bakertown Shvesterheim Which is exactly what Bakertown’s Shortly after arriving at 5:00 p.m., name, laughing as “Shmelky” involved residence hosted a pre-Chanukah party for colorful and energetic family party was. guests found a hall filled with vibrant décor attending children in his amusing and its sister group homes in upstate Kiryas Joel Auditors thus found themselves visiting and the sound of joyful music playing in the interactive performance. “The Shmelky (“KJ”), New York. the ballroom at Hamaspik’s Administration background. A cute little welcome package Show” was followed by a delicious ice cream The party, Chanukah-themed décor and Building that Wednesday afternoon, where could be found on each seat. dessert. all, was designed to usher in the holiday they found Bakertown residents excitedly Besides Bakertown, also in attendance By 7:30 p.m., the party was wrapping up spirit early. But on the same day, OPWDD setting up the well-planned party they’d were residents and staff of the Seven Springs and guests were heading home. auditors were also in town to audit Acres, shortly be hosting. women’s IRA, as well as those of the Dinev And for residents of the Bakertown, Hamaspik’s sole men’s residence in KJ. In the days before the party, the Inzerheim Intermediate Care Facility (ICF), Dinev and Seven Springs homes, it (Later results of that audit were flawless.) “girls” had shopped for paper settings and Hamaspik’s sole such residence. meant going home to a residence whose They would also be auditing Bakertown decorations, along with chocolate dreidels Guests were excited to see the colorful incomparable standards of care and the next day. and other goodies—and now were decking set-up, and even more thrilled to see each excellence were officially validated by New And since personally interviewing each the furniture in a riot of Chanukah colors. other. Once the sizable crowd of all ages York State authorities once again.

WHAT’S COOKING COME CHANUKAH AT BAKERTOWN: A SET TABLE (TOP LEFT) AND SUSHI “MENORAH” (BOTTOM LEFT) AWAIT THE HOME’S IN-HOUSE HOLIDAY PARTY, WHILE COLORFULLY DECORATED TABLES STAND BY FOR GUESTS BEFORE A GRAND JOINT GROUP-HOME PARTY, COMPLETE WITH LATER ENTERTAINMENT BY “THE SHMELKY SHOW”.

of all, it’s about the environment that I come pieces or painting take-home knickknacks To Fill Critical Community Niche, back to every day; 221 Rt. 59 is a place full of like wooden picture frames. Monsey Parents Reach for the STARS love, happiness, hugs and my best friends!” Most importantly, STARS staffers were “Esty told me that one day, I might be on hand to answer every question. All << CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 “Let me tell you why I enjoy it,” said Sarah her secretary—and by the way, I do fix her were happy to meet their friends’ moms in after introducing herself. “We practice spelling mistakes!” Sarah concluded to person. attendees to the world at large. money and time-management skills. We smiles and cheers. “I would like to thank Prospective and current parents alike Which, of course, is the ultimate goal of participate in courses like art, music, you for joining tonight!” came away from the event with a full the STARS program. dancing, yoga, computer and sometimes picture—a constellation, if you wish—of crocheting.” ASTRONOMY 101 what their daughters would get, or are THE STAR OF THE EVENING Sarah also described the fitness and After Sarah’s rousing introduction, already getting, at the daily program. The star (or is that STAR?) of the evening nutrition programming provided by STARS. guests milled about and socialized with With regards to young-adult day was Sarah (name altered for privacy), who “Twice a week, my staff accompanies me other attendees over refreshments, a large programming options for her precious took the floor at 8:00 p.m.—formally to vocational training,” she continued, “and poster displaying STARS’ regulars in action, child, one prospective parent put it best, kicking off the event by sharing her personal she told me the other day that I’m almost and three hands-on arts-and-crafts activity Mrs. Schonfeld later reported to the : thoughts and feelings about being a student ready to go work independently. And, of stations. Those stations had mothers and “It’s the first time I’m seeing my daughter at the Hamaspik program. course, we have shopping experiences. Most daughters assembling costume jewelry smiling!” FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156 HAMASPIK GAZETTE E15 The Senior Care News from the World of HamaspikCare and Senior Gazette Health Medicare Scaling Back Does Rain Really Nursing-Home Fines Cause Achy Joints? Many people insist that their joints ache ones. Even among people with arthritis, Washington, DC — Responding to and safety should still merit fines, the CMS more when it rains. the research found no connection between complaints from industry groups in recent also reportedly said at the time. To scientifically explore that notion, rainfall and patient complaints about aches years, the federal Centers for Medicare and And in November, CMS exempted Harvard Medical School researchers re- and pains. Medicaid Services (CMS) has been scaling nursing homes that violate eight new safety viewed four years of doctor-visit data by 1.5 The idea that weather affects bodily back the levying of fines against nursing rules from penalties for 18 months. Homes million members of Medicare, the federal symptoms goes back to ancient times—and homes in recent months. must still follow the rules, though. healthcare plan for seniors. to this day, many people firmly believe that This past June, CMS rescinded a rule that Federal records show that close to Researchers then correlated informa- certain weather conditions make their joint banned nursing homes from pre-emptively 6,500 of America’s roughly 16,000 nursing tion from those 11 million doctor visits with pain worse. requiring residents to submit to arbitration homes, or four of every ten, have been cited U.S. rainfall data over the same four years, Specifically, rainfall—and humidity or to settle disputes rather than going to court, at least once for a serious violation since 2008 through 2012. changes to barometric pressure—is most according to The New York Times. 2013. Medicare has fined two-thirds of The study found that people were no often blamed. A CMS memo in July discouraged those homes. The average fine in recent more likely to visit the doctor with joint or The findings were published Dec. 13 in directors of state agencies that survey years has been $33,453, but 531 nursing back pain during rainy weeks than sunny the British Medical Journal (BMJ). nursing homes from issuing daily fines for homes amassed combined federal fines violations that began before an inspection. above $100,000, records show. Instead, the new CMS policy favors one- Nursing care advocates argue that time fines. massive five-digit fines against nursing In October, CMS discouraged its regional homes—imposed on a per-day or per- offices from levying fines against nursing incident basis—are the only way to force homes, even for serious health violations, nursing homes to change. Industry leaders, if the error was a “one-time mistake.” But however, say that the fines amount to intentional disregard for residents’ health burdensome over-regulation. New York Becomes A RAINED-OUT IDEA? ACCORDING TO HARVARD RESEARCHERS, NO DIRECT First “Age-Friendly” CORRELATION WAS FOUND BETWEEN JOINT DISEASE AND WET WEATHER State in the U.S.A. Reading Aloud Best Boosts Memory Waterloo, Ontario — A modern themselves reading it; or personally reading Albany, NY — In late December, the and respect and social inclusion. Canadian study confirms what the Talmudic it aloud. American Association of Retired People New York home-care agencies like ancients knew millennia ago: To best The study found that reading out loud (AARP) and the World Health Organization HamaspikCare have furthered those remember the text, repeatedly read and proved to be the best way to remember the (WHO) declared New York the first U.S. state variables for the state’s seniors, while recite it aloud. information. to achieve their “Age-Friendly” designation. managed long-term care (MLTC) plans The University of Waterloo had 95 Results confirm that learning and The designation is based on eight age- like Hamaspik Choice—a key component study participants try to remember written memory benefit from active involvement, friendly livability categories outlined by of Gov. Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team information using one of four different ways: researchers said. WHO and AARP, which include outdoor (MRT)—further keep New York seniors reading it silently; listening to someone The findings were published recently in spaces and buildings; social participation; healthy. else read it; listening to a recording of the journal Memory.

A SKYLINE NOW BRIGHTER: WITH AMERICA’S FIRST “AGE-FRIENDLY” DESIGNATION, NEW YORK’S HORIZONS ARE LOOKING UP FOR MORE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES THAN EVER E16 HAMASPIK GAZETTE FEBRUARY ’18 • ISSUE NO. 156