An Occasional Publication on Heath and Wellness from Kevyn Clegg
Exercise : The recommended amount of moderate exercise to promote health keeps being increased. Can you fit in a 30-60 minute period of exercise every day? For some guidance on designing an effective exercise program, check out the one page “Make the most of your fitness time with interval training”. You'll find copies on my bulletin board. Thanks to Michael Baustin for sharing this with us.
How about an exercise class? There are a number of options for residents who want to work out in company: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday a dedicated group meets for 45-60 minutes in the Mt. Tom Room at 10 am . New members are always welcome, and the taped “Chair Dancing” program they use invites participation from persons of all fitness levels.
Bea Ainsworth and Jack Fernald are looking for others who would like to add weights for strength building to a chair exercise program. Bea has purchased a new tape from the chair-dancing lady. Call Bea or Jack to learn more.
Several of you come by the exercise room for treadmill time in the early morning. This sometimes means a short wait for your favorite treadmill, but also offers exercise companionship for those who do better in company. If you're content to use any one of our three treadmills, drop by between 7 and 9 am and see who else is working out.
I have ordered more copies of the popular exercise manual from the National Institutes of Health. These should be available by the end of February. Claire and Red Culver have given us a copy of the exercise video that accompanies this book. When my new stock arrives, perhaps some of you would like to organize a 2-5 day a week exercise time using this program? I would be happy to help with communications, and Sarah can answer questions about space availability.
Making healthy food choices: I could not attend the food survey meeting that Mr. Kris offered last Friday, so I will be checking with attendees to hear what I missed. Whatever appears on the menu here, there will be options that are better than others when it comes to any one individual's diet planning. I am happy to offer advice on choosing from the dinner menu, and on breakfast and lunch foods that will support your personal goals for healthy eating.
Are you paying a fortune for prescription drugs? Please take a copy of this handout from the pouch on my bulletin board. It introduces MassMedLine, a fee-free service of the Mass College of Pharmacy with support from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. I'd appreciate any comments about your experience with the program if you decide to participate.
Homecare Surveys: Please return the survey if you are interested in purchasing some homecare services now or in the near future. Roxy and I expect to offer a meeting to all interested residents later this month.
Can We Talk? Are there wellness or illness topics you would like to see me or an outside speaker address in a small or large group setting? Please stick a note in my box with ideas. Some issues come up several times a week when I speak with individuals, but it is unclear to me how interested you would be in a group presentation and discussion with your neighbors on what are essentially personal topics. Let me know what you think.
I have heard back from several of you that a conversation about the Five Wishes [for end of life care] would be welcome. I expect to offer at least one workshop on this topic in March.
Office Matters: Roxy is getting some brochure racks for the health room. This will tidy things up a bit. I'll be asking for a bookcase or shelves soon, too.
If you land in the hospital: In two recent cases, residents in townhomes have been hospitalized, and neighbors called me to find out what had happened or to offer their assistance. In order to protect your privacy, I only share this kind of news with neighbors if you have asked me to do so. A telephone call to me is all it takes.
If you would like a visit from me while you are in the hospital or in rehab, please let me know. I can usually arrange visits, and will be happy to join any case conferences as your advocate. Several residents have found that my participation helps ensure high quality care and a better understanding about what supports are available to residents returning home.
The Next Edition: Next time I publish, I'd like to add a question and answer section. This means that I need some questions from you. Anything is fair game to ask – I don't promise to answer every question in print, but will respond to you personally if you include your name. All correspondence may be mailed, or stuck in my pigeonhole in the mailroom.