Category Archives: Health

Mental health awareness needed as holidays approach, emotional wellness tips provided

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Mental health conditions are at an all-time high, but there is hope (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

Jacklyn Eding provides emotional wellness tips as holidays draw closer (Courtesy, Supplied)

Millions of Americans experience symptoms of mental health conditions, with depression and suicidal thoughts currently at an all-time high. As the holiday season draws closer, awareness of this issue is crucial.

Jacklyn Eding, LLMSW and Wedgwood Christian Services (WCS) Trauma-Focused Therapist, says she has seen an increase in more mental health concerns surrounding depression and anxiety. 

“We are seeing more suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviors and higher depression due to external stimuli that we take in every day, but also due to the higher stress and demands of our environment and what’s around us,” said Eding.

Children and adolescents are seeing higher demands at school, but lower teacher numbers to provide that instruction.

Adults are experiencing lower paying jobs and/or higher expectations on their workload.

Continued effects of the pandemic

While an overarching societal issue, Eding says COVID has had a sizable impact on mental health.

“We all went through essentially our own traumatic experience with COVID,” said Eding. “We all went through a very, very high period of stress that – for the most part – we couldn’t really overcome. There was nothing for us to do, we couldn’t go out places. It was all very different for us.

“We are still feeling the effects of COVID. Even to this day, some people still have high anxiety due to illness, some people just have less employment. It’s definitely a contributing factor.”


Eding continued to say that her younger clients are struggling and behind in school due to struggles with online schooling. Infants and toddlers are struggling to learn how to be separated from a caregiver for an hour and know that caregiver will come back.

“That is a big time for emotional attachment development, and just attachment in general,” said Eding. “As families try to grow and develop healthy attachment styles, it’s definitely harder when there is no opportunity for a child to have that opportunity to experience independence for a short while with the knowledge that their caregiver will be coming back.”

Light at the end of the tunnel

But Eding says she does see a decrease in anxiety and depression on the horizon – though it will take time to reach it.

“I do see it coming back down,” says Eding. “There are a lot of options and encouragement for mental health right now. It’s no longer that mental health and mental illness have a negative stigma. It’s becoming a lot more prominent, and people are becoming more aware that if they really want to talk to someone after they see these symptoms, it is okay to seek help. And it’s okay to seek help for your children, it’s okay to seek help for your spouse.


“It’s becoming more normalized, which is great. And it’s encouraging to see, because I believe that is going to be a big part of that anxiety and depression decreasing.”

WCS has clients ranging from three or four years of age with play therapy, up to 90 years of age.

“We have all walks of life, and emotional wellness is one of the biggest things that we see, especially from a young age, is needing more education on it,” says Eding.

One example would be the need to dispel the myth that kids need to be happy all the time.

“It is how to handle the discomfort of challenging feelings, how to know when they are getting too big and how to cope with that, especially in a world where there is so much going on,” says Eding.

What can we do to help?

“The big one is being there to offer support when needed,” says Eding. “Being there to listen, to guide, to heal.”

Being present and aware of what is going on and offering to talk or get help with someone struggling is key.


In an age of technology where we are consumed by our phones, having family dinners to check in with loved ones and offer support where needed is important.

Looking for signs and symptoms to identify when someone might not be doing well, that they may be struggling more than usual, is another way to support loved ones.

You are not alone

Letting them know they are not alone is also essential.

“They are not alone in their experiences, they are not alone in what they are feeling,” says Eding. “There are more people than not who experience the same symptoms who don’t exactly know what they are going through, but know how hard it is to not understand what is happening and be able to reach out for help. Even if that is just a friend, or a loved one, or just calling the National Crisis Line.

Being present and aware is important (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“They are supported, they are understood, and they shouldn’t be afraid to reach out if they don’t understand, or if they just need someone to talk to or someone to help them.”

WCS offers a wide range of services in a variety of fields.

“We support all cultures, we are very accepting of everyone and are open to every stage and every walk of life,” says Eding. “We are always looking to support the mental wellness of all clients.”

Eding notes 10 easy-to-execute tips people can do to better handle emotions, especially during the upcoming holiday season:

  1. Listening to your body
  2. Self-care
  3. Mindfulness
  4. Exercise
  5. Sleep
  6. Laughter
  7. Self-talk
  8. Connections
  9. Deep breathing
  10. Seeking help

Other available resources

WCS currently does not have a waitlist for their services. Their intake line is 616-942-7294.

In crisis times, those with Medicaid insurance can reach out and talk with someone through Network180 Mobile Crisis Response Services.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has a variety of information regarding child trauma, anxiety and depression.

“It’s a hard time,” says Eding. “No one can deny that the world today is not the same as it used to be. There are a lot of stressors and a lot of things environmentally and mentally that are challenging, that seem bigger than who we are as a person. And for those, it is always great to reach out and get help.”

One Day Niche fills vital gap, provides activity-based program for those with disabilities

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Going Local, Health, Kent County, Local Business, Recreation, West Michigan, , , , ,
Field trips are a daily part of One Day Niche programming (Courtesy, Alison Haraburda)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

Alison Haraburda was frustrated with the lack of local social interaction and physical activity options for her disabled brother – so she took matters into her own hands and founded One Day Niche.

A non-profit organization that provides life skills and activities for individuals with disabilities, One Day Niche fills a gap long needed for those who have aged out of traditional schooling.

Engaging in the community and social interaction are important aspects of the program (Courtesy, Alison Haraburda)

“We want One Day Niche to be a place where people of all abilities can come together and enrich the lives of each other through shared experience,” Haraburda says on ODN’s website.

Shared experience with those possessing various levels of ability is nothing new to Haraburda. Her parents provided foster care for several individuals during Haraburda’s childhood, all with various disabilities. Three of those individuals eventually became Haraburda’s adopted siblings.

“Growing up, I learned how to care for individuals with various disabilities,” said Haraburda. “That was part of my upbringing.”

Haraburda’s adopted brother is now 35 years old but with a limited mental capacity of an individual much younger. She made several attempts to find programs her brother could participate in, all unsuccessful.

“He ended up sitting at home, watching TV all day,” said Haraburda. “[He would] go to bed, get up and do the same thing again. That’s not good for anybody’s health.”

That was when Haraburda embarked upon a quest to provide healthier options and programming herself.

Determination and dedication

Haraburda began talking to organizations, inquiring about programs offered to individuals. In addition, she spoke to nonprofit organizations to find out the feasibility of founding her own nonprofit.

After gleaning information from 25 organizations, Haraburda said there was a resounding theme.

Rebekah (left), Alison and Jason are committed to helping those with disabilities thrive (Courtesy, Alison Haraburda)

“I heard over and over, ‘Don’t quit, don’t quit, keep going,’” said Haraburda.

Haraburda took their advice to heart and, one year after launch, One Day Niche averages 7-13 individuals with varying levels of disabilities per outing, and owns two vehicles for transport.

“This is the first year I’ve been blessed to be able to hire two additional employees,” Haraburda added.

With the growth in attendance, extra help was desperately needed despite individuals attending on a rotating basis.

“The disabled have different struggles to deal with, so it varies when they can come,” said Haraburda. “But 85% of our individuals are pretty consistent on the days they come.”

How does One Day Niche work?

Participants meet at a designated place Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. Providers and caregivers may drop off participants, or One Day Niche employees pick up individuals as needed.

Each day includes a field trip and activities geared toward increasing basic living and social skills.

There is always fun to be had at One Day Niche (Courtesy, Alison Haraburda)

“Our focus is basic living within the community,” said Haraburda. “It can be job skills, but our focus is how we can be contributing members to the community at large.

“A lot of them struggle with social interactions; a lot of learning has taken place.”

Bowling, basketball, shopping, crafts, museums, parks, visiting Frederik Meijer Gardens and exploring ArtPrize are just a few examples of One Day Niche activities.

“In the fall, we spend a lot of time going to farms, doing fall activities [like] pumpkins, apple picking, hayrides and corn mazes,” said Haraburda.

Community engagement and giving back are an important aspect of One Day Niche.

“Thursday mornings we go to a church and give back,” said Haraburda. “We vacuum, take out the trash, wash windows and wipe down tables.”

Continuing to grow and dream

Haraburda’s initial idea was to have a large facility or gym that would allow them to have various activities on-site, as well as field trips.

“Buying a facility has been out of our reach so far,” Haraburda admitted. “It’s a long-term goal, to buy a place and have a site year-round where we can do activities.

“We have been very fortunate to make a lot of different connections, so every Wednesday we have access to a gym at a local church.”

Here’s how to join the fun

“We try to keep the registration process for the individuals and families very simple,” said Haraburda. “We know that caring for an individual with any type of disability is hard, so we try to make the process simple for anyone who would want to join in.”

Daily cost is $25 and includes six hours of the program and all activities for that day.

Haraburda said they are always looking for volunteers and college interns to help out.

“We have had families come and volunteer their time,” said Haraburda. “One family brought Nerf guns, so we had Nerf wars that day. It was a really fun day,” she added with a laugh.

To register as a volunteer, email admin@onedayniche.org or call 616-862-6612.

Help support their journey

“We are always looking for funding,” said Haraburda. “As a new nonprofit, that seems to be the hardest for us as we get off the ground. But we are expanding, and we love what we do and the services we have been able to offer the families.

“It’s been a journey, but it’s been a fun journey.”

To learn more about One Day Niche, visit onedayniche.org.

Schools will soon have cleaner water, reduce risk of lead poisoning

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Environment, Hard News, Health, , , , , ,
Thousands of Michigan children are at risk of lead poisoning (Courtesy, Midstory)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

Thousands of Michigan children are at risk of lead poisoning, but will soon be protected at schools and childcare centers.

On Oct. 19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law “Filter First” legislation. This legislation consists of three bills that require the installation of lead water filters in all schools and childcare centers. Costs will be offset by $50 million dollars currently set aside in the state budget.

“Michigan lawmakers have just enacted the nation’s strongest measures protecting kids from lead in school and childcare centers,” said Cyndi Roper, Michigan senior policy advocate for NRDC. “These bills implement a solution that actually gets lead out of drinking water while also realizing dramatic cost savings over other approaches.”

“F” ranking prompts immediate action

The legislation’s passage comes after a nationwide Environment America report gave Michigan an F grade for its efforts to remove lead from school drinking water. With “Filter First” legislation becoming law, the ranking would be boosted to an A.

Lead levels are harmful in many locations (Courtesy, Midstory)

Research by Elin Betanzo, president and founder of Safe Water Engineering LLC, revealed that 89% of the 114 schools and childcare facilities that voluntarily submitted water samples to the state had dangerous amounts of lead in them.

Lead stunts mental, physical and social development. Young children, whose minds and bodies are growing most, are especially at risk. No amount of lead is safe.

“There has not been a bigger moment in the lead poisoning fight since lead paint was banned 45 years ago,” said Charlotte Jameson, chief policy officer for the Michigan Environmental Council. “Momentum is on our side. We can make lead poisoning history, not current reality.”

The filters schools and childcare centers will install prevent lead found in fountains and taps from leaching into the water children and staff drink. Lead leaching is possible in water fixtures new and old, and is especially prevalent in those left unused for long periods of time. That makes schools and childcare centers, with their many breaks and weekend closures, especially prone to lead contamination.

More about the “Filter First” method

The policy within the legislation, dubbed “Filter First,” is more effective than replacing water infrastructure outright because even new plumbing contains lead. It is also hundreds of millions of dollars cheaper and much faster to implement, according to an analysis prepared by NRDC for the Filter First Coalition.

“Michigan school water data shows that 89% of sampled buildings found detectable lead in their water,” said Betanzo of Safe Water Engineering. “Since Birmingham Public Schools switched its drinking water to all filter stations, there hasn’t been any lead in any of their filtered water samples.

“The Filter First law ensures that all drinking water in Michigan schools and childcare centers will be filtered, improving water quality at more than 3,000 schools statewide and achieving results just like Birmingham.”

City of Wyoming provides residents safe medicine disposal options with Oct. 28 event

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Processed medications will be transported to Kent County’s Waste to Energy Facility and incinerated (Courtesy Photo)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

The City of Wyoming addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue by participating in the semiannual “Drug Take Back Day” event Oct. 28.

DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Days are designed to make communities safer and healthier by providing a way to turn in unneeded medications, removing them from potential harm. This reduces drug addiction, overdoses, overdose deaths, and drug-related violence.

Millions of Americans misuse controlled prescription drugs (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Drug Take Back Day events are a joint effort between DEA, law enforcement, wastewater treatment facilities and government agencies to provide residents with safe, convenient access to proper medicine disposal.

“Medications collected in West Michigan are transported to Kent County’s Waste to Energy Facility, where they are incinerated,” the City of Wyoming website states.

Hosted by the City of Wyoming Police Station and U of M Health West campus, “Drug Take Back Day” will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Wyoming Take Back History

In 2009, the City of Wyoming Clean Water Plant developed a new initiative called WyMeds designed to reduce the amount of medicinal waste from entering the wastewater system and our environment. The overwhelming success of this program led to its adoption by Kent County in 2010.

Now known as West Michigan Take Back Meds, the program serves the entire Kent County area as well as parts of Muskegon, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties.

Year Round Safe Medication Drop-Off

Drop off your unused medication all year round at one of these SafeMeds drop-off locations:

 



Wyoming Public Safety (2300 De Hoop Avenue)
Takes: Controlled and non-controlled substances
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

CVS Pharmacy (5603 Byron Center SW)
Takes: Controlled and non-controlled substances (No syringes, no inhalers)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Meijer Pharmacy (5500 Clyde Park SW)
Takes: Controlled and non-controlled substances (No syringes, no inhalers, no liquids)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. –  6 p.m.

Be honest and be careful to avoid errors with medications

City of Kentwood, Health, West Michigan,
Pharmacist Aaron Hoholik showing participant Carol a pill organizer for her medication. (Courtesy, Care Resources)



By Care Resources

greer@wktv.org



Everyone makes mistakes.

But when it comes to errors regarding the medications you take, the consequences can be serious or even deadly.

The good news is this: With attention to detail and being honest about how you use meds, it’s possible to safeguard yourself against blunders that can affect your health.

“Any kind of error can result in adverse effects,” says Aaron Hoholik, a clinical pharmacist with Care Resources in Grand Rapids. “That goes not only for prescription drugs, but over-the-counter products as well.

“In the pharmaceutical world, medication errors come in a wide variety – wrong medication, wrong dose, drugs with similar names, a drug not monitored correctly and even wrong patients receiving the drug.”

Be aware of drug interactions

He points out that mistakes also occur when patients aren’t aware of the risks associated with how a drug might interact with another they’re already taking, and that includes products labeled as “natural,” “herbal” or “supplemental.”

“One of my pharmacy school professors used to say that even arsenic is a natural product,” Hoholik notes.

When someone joins Care Resources, a community-based program for people 55 years or older,  it’s crucial for them to share an accurate list of meds they’re taking, how often they’re taking them and where they’re getting them from.

“That’s a great way to start,” says Hoholik, emphasizing that such information can help medical providers like himself best serve patients going forward.

But it’s also vital that patients be honest in reporting how often they’re actually taking a medicine, since some people will intentionally or accidentally not take them as prescribed – anything from pain meds to insulin to what’s in their inhaler.

Taking a dose more or less often than a person is supposed to can result in adverse effects like low or high blood pressure, dangerous blood-sugar levels and more.

“We need to know exactly what they’re taking and how they’re taking it,” says Hoholik, “so they don’t experience any problems that are going to have them end up in emergency health care.”

Organize your medications

Of equal importance is organizing your meds, and there are a variety of ways to do so. While some people dispense meds from individual containers, many are resorting to “adherence packaging,” which relies on accurately marked pouches or blister packs to bundle meds so that patients get the right dose at the right time, every time.

“It’s becoming a common way to package meds for our patients,” he says of participants he’s been serving on behalf of Care Resources since 2009.

Additional tips on how to avoid errors include:

  • Never dump your old pill bottles into your new ones, even if the medication name and dose are the same.
  • Set alarms on your phone, an alarm clock or a smart device to help you remember to take your medications.
  • Call for a refill when you have about one week of medications left to avoid gaps in taking your medications.
  • Ask your pharmacist about getting all your medications lined up to fill on the same day each month.
  • Ask your pharmacist and primary care provider if there are ways to take your same medications, but with fewer daily doses (by combining medications, changing to extended-release formulas or other adjustments).
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you notice you’re missing doses.

“Organizing your meds and taking them as directed is always a process,” Hoholik says. “Being honest and accurate is key. And it can make all the difference when it comes to being and staying healthy.”



Women receiving cancer treatment to experience pampering, renewal at upcoming Self-Care Day Oct. 13

Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Local Business, medical moment, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , ,
Self-Care Day, offered by The Healing Nest of Western Michigan, is intended to help cancer patients find rejuvenation of both mind and body (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

Self-Care Day will offer alternative therapies by trained and certified volunteers (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

A day of renewal and pampering for women receiving cancer treatment will take place at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids on Friday, Oct.13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Offered by The Healing Nest of Western Michigan and with collaboration with Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, the free Self-Care Day event will include a variety of self-care opportunities. Massages, Healing Touch, Reiki, yoga, and meditation will be available options.

Attendees are welcome to join one or all of the relaxing offerings.

Benefits of self-care

Founded by Reiki Master Laurel Williamson, The Healing Nest is a group of volunteers with specialized training and certification in the above listed alternative therapies.

“People just need a lot of love when [they are] struggling with [cancer],” said Williamson. “You’re vulnerable, you’re scared, you don’t feel good, and you’re worried about the next test or the test results. It’s a constant strain mentally and emotionally. The things we are offering just help take you out of that space and into a place of relaxation, peace, and less anxiety.”

A partnership that was meant to be

Laurel Williamson hopes to continue offering self-care events in West Michigan (Courtesy, Laurel Williamson)

Williamson had grown up watching actress and comedian Gilda Radner with her mother and sisters and knew she had died from cancer.

“I’d heard of the organization that Gene Wilder put together in her honor and memory, and my son-in-law mentioned that I give them a call,” said Williamson.

Needing a place that would allow her to host The Healing Nest event, Williamson visited the renovated farmhouse accommodating Gilda’s Clubhouse (1806 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids).

“It’s an incredible place,” said Williamson. “It was taken down to the studs and [they] invited the community in and asked them if they would write their prayers and intentions on the studs before they put the drywall over. It’s just full of prayers and intentions for healing.

“You can feel the love in the building, you can feel the love on the grounds, and you know their doors are open for anyone affected by cancer in any possible way,” Williamson continued. “Their doors are open to anyone experiencing grief. I’m honored that they would like to work with us.”

Gilda’s Club provides a variety of free opportunities for local cancer patients (Courtesy Photo)

Director of Program Operations of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, Lindsay Jousma, said the Club’s desire is to provide a multitude of free service opportunities for local cancer patients.

“Cancer can take a toll on one’s emotional and physical wellbeing,” said Jousma. “By partnering with Laurel and the volunteers at The Healing Nest of Western Michigan for Self-Care Day, we hope to give women living with cancer a special day to care for themselves and their emotional wellbeing.”

How to help someone who is struggling

Williamson said that simply giving a cancer patient a ride to the event is helpful.

“If they were feeling sick from the effects of the chemotherapy…it [takes] a lot for them just to get up and put lipstick on that day,” said Williamson.

She continued to say that help and encouragement can become a matter of “just holding space for them with this pure intention of nothing more than love and helping them.”

Slowing down mental chatter, unwinding the nervous system

Self Care Day is intended to provide relaxing, peaceful effects of slowing down mental chatter, breathing deeply, and allowing the nervous system to unwind.

Reiki, one of the event offerings, is intended to help slow mental chatter (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“Yoga and meditation and Reiki and healing touch all kind of go about it in the same way,” said Williamson of the event’s offerings. “And that is to bring all of the mental chatter to a place of stillness. It’s slowing everything down so that person can be inside their body for a moment, feel their heart beat, and concentrate.

“As a volunteer at The Healing Nest of Mid-Michigan, I saw how its healing resources can rejuvenate a person’s mental outlook,” Williamson continued. “That’s the idea of The Healing Nest, to bring people in and allow them to take that deep breath, sigh, and just be. Now, local women living with cancer have a peaceful place where they can visit and receive free services that target their mind, body and spirit.”

Looking ahead

The Healing Nest is looking for local volunteers (Courtesy Photo)

It is Williamson’s intention to host self-care events regularly. Many of her volunteers, however, travel from the east side of the state to help put on the events.

Because of this, Williamson said they will begin by offering self-care days quarterly.

“I would love to offer it much more often, so I am open to local volunteers,” said Williamson, explaining that volunteers would need to be licensed or certified in their field.

Register for Self-Care Day services

Slots for services are still available for Self-Care Day. Interested participants can register by contacting The Healing Nest by phone: 248-762-2883, or email: laurel@healingnestwest.com.

More information can be found online at www.healingnestwest.com.

For more information about Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and their services, visit gildasclubgr.org.

The Healing Nest and Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids would like to thank Meijer for sponsoring the food and water for Self-Care Day.

State Rep. John Fitzgerald provided Wyoming residents direct access to important resources with first annual Senior Resource Fair

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Going Local, Health, Kent County, Our Cities, Senior Living, West Michigan, , , , , ,
State Representative John Fitzgerald speaks of his commitment to help the senior community while in office (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

State Representative John Fitzgerald spoke with several community members during the Wyoming Senior Resource Fair (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

State Representative John Fitzgerald met with members of Wyoming’s senior community during the first annual Senior Resource Fair on Sept. 25.

Fitzgerald partnered with City of Wyoming Parks & Recreation and the Wyoming Senior Center (WSC) to bring resources specifically geared toward seniors into the local community.

“This was prompted by the recognition that our senior community in Wyoming is one that deserves to have attention provided to it, and services delivered right to their doorstep,” said Fitzgerald. “We really looked at what this community needs, and it is more direct services from the state. This is an opportunity for us to begin a tradition of providing these resources directly to the community.”

The Resource Fair included several community organizations that provided information, resources, goodies, and even lunch for attendees. The goal was to not only reach members of the Wyoming Senior Center where the event was held, but also the general community with resources specific to older adults in Wyoming.

“It’s very easy for older adults to slip through the cracks,” said Chad Boprie, WSC Director. “As people hit retirement age, they start to have these needs and they don’t know where to find help. By doing an event like this, [seniors] can get a lot of the resources in one place and be able to tap into those,” said Boprie.

A need for resources and compassion

The Senior Resource Fair is expected to become an annual fall event (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Resident Janet Thompson attended the Resource Fair for that exact reason.

Housing, transportation, and service providers such as plumbers and electricians were among Thompson’s top priorities.

“We want to stay in our homes as long as we can,” said Thompson. “We figured we would hire what we need done, but we don’t know where to go to hire it done.”

Where to get help – and help from providers experienced with the senior community – is not always clear, Thompson continued.

“I thought maybe the [vendors] who come here are used to dealing with seniors…and might be more patient and have more knowledge,” said Thompson.

Providing knowledge and expertise

Senior Real Estate Specialist Patti Grover Gabrielse (left) works to provide seniors with customized and fair expertise (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Senior Real Estate Specialist, Patti Grover Gabrielse, participated as a vendor at the Resource Fair to help provide that experience and knowledge.

“What we do is we focus on the senior adult community,” said Gabrielse. “Of course we want to stay in our homes as long as we can, but when the time comes that we have to sell, I make sure to protect that asset and get the most amount of money for them.”

Gabrielse went on to say that there are real estate agents out there who take advantage of people who don’t know the market.

“It’s a real area of elder abuse,” Gabrielse said. “That money, whether [seniors] are going to go to assisted living or if they are going to go to family and live, every dime matters to them.”

Health and wellness education

Tina Ezell (left) of Urban League of West Michigan chats with a senior resident (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Tia Ezell with Urban League of West Michigan participated in the Resource Fair to provide information on COVID-19 and tobacco reform.

“Today we are here with information about COVID-19,” said Ezell. “We have some resources, masks, sanitizer, and literature on the vaccine and that explains things you can do to help prevent the spread of COVID.”

The Grand Rapids Urban League is also looking to end the sale of all flavored tobacco in the state of Michigan, including menthol flavored tobacco.

“[We are] doing our best to engage and educate the community that we serve about the harms of tobacco smoke, and why there is a need for tobacco reform in the state of Michigan,” Ezell said.

Grand Rapids Urban League also provides resources in regard to health and wellness education, housing resources, employment opportunities, and the Cure Violence program.

“The communities we serve are under-resourced, marginalized, and we are aware that we need to do what we can to inform them and provide whatever resources are available,” said Ezell.

A community that cares

The Wyoming Senior Center offers resources for both physical and mental health (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The Senior Center works to provide the senior community with care and resources for more than just physical recreation.

“We want to be a hub for recreational services,” said Boprie. “Within that recreation there are so many goals related to not only physical fitness and physical health, but also mental health.”

Boprie went on to say that the WSC staff often sees loneliness and depression in older adults and believes that being active and involved in social programs helps reduce that issue.

“We also offer Meals on Wheels here two days a week, so there is also the nutritional component that we can provide for people as well,” Boprie said.

“We are very fortunate to have a senior center like this in Wyoming,” said Fitzgerald, “where we can have a gathering place to have all these wonderful organizations and people who serve our senior community get right to the source, to the people who need their services most.”

Dedicated to a life of service

A member of Rep. Fitzgerald’s staff sets out complimentary lunches, provided by Meals on Wheels, for attendees (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Serving his first term representing the 83rd House District, Fitzgerald is dedicated to building policy that will solve everyday, real issues that impact West Michigan residents. His commitment to community service stems from his mother and grandmothers who devoted their lives to giving beyond themselves.

“My personal connection with the senior community began when I was a child,” said Fitzgerald. “Starting at the age of three, I delivered Meals on Wheels with my mom. I would go in there and begin to chat with those who we were delivering meals to, and hear how their day was going.

“In my teenage years, I played cards with a number of my church members who were older,” Fitzgerald continued. “Even today, I look to support our senior community in a number of non-profit ways as well.”

To learn more about Rep. Fitzgerald and his policies, visit housedems.com/john-fitzgerald.

Constituents may contact Rep. Fitzgerald via email at JohnFitzgerald@house.mi.gov, or call 517-373-0835.

Natural burials provide environmentally friendly, cost effective option for laying loved ones to rest

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Health, Kent County, West Michigan, , , ,
A wicker casket can be an environmentally friendly alternative (Courtesy, Ridgeview Memorial Gardens)

By Rachel Rickman

WKTV Contributor

When researching options for her husband’s burial in 2019, Stephanie Edwards believed natural burial fit perfectly with Tom’s life and his love of nature.

“I believe that Tom would have appreciated the ecologically friendly process of this burial,” said Edwards in a Green Burial Council testimonial about her husband’s burial at Penn Forest.

A family chooses to bury their loved one in a shroud at Ridgeview Memorial Gardens (Courtesy, Ridgeview Memorial Gardens)

Throughout preparation for the burial, Edwards also found the process to be one of healing.

“Funerals have always been traumatic for me, but this was a beautiful, healing experience,” Edwards said after Tom’s burial was complete.

What happens with our bodies after death is often discussed among loved ones, and available options are growing in number.

While not always a comfortable conversation topic, it is an inevitable occurrence, so why not have some say in the matter?

Familiar traditions and a new (old?) alternative

Embalming/burial and cremation are two familiar and popular traditions. However, a new option is a natural or green burial, which was recently approved in Michigan but only in certain cemeteries and locations.

In West Michigan, the only currently approved green burial location is Ridgeview Memorial Gardens in Grandville.

Proponents of green burials highlight minimal environmental impact, cost effectiveness, and peaceful, natural settings.

In total, Michigan has 14 designated green burial areas. More cemeteries are adding or looking to add a natural burial section as they grow in popularity. So why don’t more cemeteries offer this option?

“Because they’re more labor intensive,” says Ron Zartman, Executive Director of Ridgeview Memorial Gardens and member of the Green Burial Council.

Zartman explains that he has been contacted by other municipalities about adding a green burial option, but they find the labor-intensive aspect to be an obstacle.

Burial types and their environmental impact

A traditional burial involves a casket and vault made from concrete, creating little maintenance after the burial. With a natural burial, it is necessary to maintain and service the grave site three or four times as the earth settles.

Wood caskets and cremation containers are often used for natural burials (Courtesy, Ridgeview Memorial Gardens)

A green burial allows for natural decomposition as opposed to dealing with chemicals involved in the embalming process. Keeping embalming fluids and chemicals used on traditional burial sites—such as herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers—out of the equation lessens negative impact on the environment.

In a natural burial, even headstones are considered. While headstones have traditionally been made from imported stones such as marble, designated green burial sites are required to use stone native to the area. Using local stone guarantees all aspects of the site retain their natural integrity.

Embalming, while often still a popular option, is not required in Michigan, though it can be deemed necessary for purposes of transportation or in other specific circumstances.

During the embalming process, a body is drained of blood and those fluids are exchanged for embalming chemicals such as formaldehyde, which delays the body’s natural decomposition process. The practice of embalming has been around a long time—think Ancient Egypt and mummies—but it was popularized during the Civil War as a way to transport bodies home over a long distance.

Natural burials, in contrast, have been “the way the human race handled burial before embalming,” said Zartman.

Before the growing popularity of natural burials, cremation was considered a more natural and less environmentally impactful method of handling a body. However, cremation does carry an environmental footprint because it releases CO2 and other chemicals into the environment.

Costs and requirements

Many people associate death with a casket. However, Michigan law does not require a casket for burial or cremation.

Due to cost, caskets can often be one of the biggest expenses of a funeral.

Be sure to check with cemeteries about their burial requirements (Courtesy, Ridgeview Memorial Gardens)

Zartman stated that the “average funeral in Michigan runs $8,500, but people easily put $10,000 into a burial. Even cremation can be expensive.”

If cost is a consideration, know you have options when choosing a casket, and question if a funeral home or crematory service pressures you into purchasing one.

While you are not required to have a casket for burial, you will need to check with your chosen cemetery about their “container” requirements.

Zartman said that cost is a big factor in why people choose a natural burial. Natural burial services can cost as little as $3,200 compared to higher costs associated with other options. Alleviating more expensive items such as a vault and casket lowers the total cost considerably.

“80% come in cardboard boxes—cremation containers,” said Zartman. However, there are other biodegradable green burial containers available, such as wicker caskets.

Each state has their own rules and regulations when it comes to how a body is handled after death. Whether you or a loved one have chosen cremation, embalming and burial, or natural burial, there are specific guidelines to adhere to.

If you are looking for more information about green burials in Western Michigan for you or a loved one, Zartman is ready to answer your questions.

“Families need help,” Zartman said. “They need sound advice.”

Discussing what to do with your body or the body of a loved one after death is not a comfortable subject, but knowing your options and the costs associated can save a lot of stress during an emotional time.



Rachel Rickman is a freelance writer, editor, and former university English Instructor with a BA, MA, and MFA focused on writing. She grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but currently resides in Rosarito, Mexico with her husband and son. Much of her work focuses on “narrative recipes”—personal essays with recipe/cooking ideas.

Rachel’s work can be found on her blog: jezebelstable.com; Instagram: aroundthetablerr; and Patreon: www.patreon.com/AroundtheTableRR.

Care Resources explores benefits to elderly residents with a tai chi class

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Kent County, Senior Living, West Michigan, , , , ,
Maria Goosen, CTRS leads seniors in a Tai Chi class at Care Resources (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

Care Resources in Grand Rapids recently offered a tai chi class to Day Center visitors ages 55 and older as a way to promote healthy living.

“Tai chi is a form of exercise that originated in China and has become extremely popular throughout the world,” said Maria Goosen, a certified therapeutic recreational specialist (CTRS) who led the tai chi class. “It incorporates slow, simple, repetitive and low-impact movements that can be easily modified so that anyone can participate.”

A tranquil environment

Maria Goosen, CTRS, leads a Tai Chi class (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The small exercise class took place in a room that featured a screen portraying peaceful nature scenes, low lighting, and soft music.

“Tai chi is often referred to as ‘meditation in motion’ because it focuses on your breath as well which helps to clear your mind,” said Goosen. “This allows for a multitude of emotional benefits such as decreased stress, anxiety and depression and enhanced well-being.”

Slow stretches gradually progressed into a sequence of tai chi movements that participants were able to complete sitting or standing, whichever was most comfortable to them.

Goosen says the benefits of tai chi are lengthy: improved balance, improved strength, improved hand-eye coordination, improved sleep quality, increased blood circulation and decreased risk of high blood pressure.

“It is a research-based intervention that has the capability to improve health in older adults,” said Goosen.

That is critically important to Care Resources, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE®, which is funded by Medicare and Medicaid. The innovative community-based program for people 55 years and older promotes healthy and independent living while working to prevent nursing home placement.

The tai chi class is one of dozens of programs offered each month to participants.

Seniors warm up their muscles before a Tai Chi class at Care Resources (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Goosen helped physically guide participants’ movements if asked, but urged them not to do any tai chi moves that would cause pain. “Listen to what your body is telling you,” said Goosen.

The tranquil atmosphere of the class was sporadically broken by soft laughter over participants’ self-proclaimed “creaking bones” and lack of coordination.

“Your bodies appreciate when you move them,” Goosen told the participants. “Be thankful and grateful for all that your body does.”

Bingo…and good friends

Pamela Miller, a tai chi class participant, has been coming to Care Resources five days a week for the past four years.

“I’ve got a lot of pluses about this place,” said Miller with a firm nod when asked if she enjoyed coming to the Day Center.

Playing Bingo, singing with “Diane the Shower Lady,” shopping in the Bingo Room, spending time with friends, and singing karaoke are only a few things Miller enjoys while at the Day Center.

Pamela Miller, a regular at the Care Resources day center, has made close friends during her visits (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

And Miller’s definition of enjoyment is simple: “All I want is a good card to play Bingo.”

Miller has also forged lasting relationships and good friends at the Day Center, one being a gentleman who recently passed away.

Miller and her friend sat beside each other for years, looked out for each other, and went to events together before he died. Miller was thankful that her friend’s wife contacted Miller so she could go to his room and say goodbye before he passed.

“I know I’m not the only one who misses him,” said Miller.

Another good friend loves to paint, and Miller enjoys watching her create works of art.

Comfort and encouragement

Also very important to Miller is talking to the military veterans who come to the Day Center and offering comfort when she can.

“I’m there for them,” said Miller. “I see how they suffer. And they have suffered a lot.”

When asked what Miller’s favorite thing to do is at the Day Center, she answered without hesitation: “Encourage other people.”

Care Resources offers a day center, clinic and pharmacy in its 36,000-square-foot building at 4150 Kalamazoo Ave SE that provide a wide range of health care services as well as opportunities that promote socialization, build community and offer respite to caregivers.

Arbor Circle receives grant from Steelcase Foundation in support of children’s mental health

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Kent County, West Michigan, , , , , ,
Arbor Circle teams up with Steelcase Foundation in a common goal to help West Michigan communities (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

Arbor Circle works to remove barriers and meet the mental health needs of children, their parents, and their caregivers (Courtesy, Arbor Circle)

Arbor Circle is celebrating a recent $100,000 grant from Steelcase Foundation in support of a 2-year project focused on mental health support for children and families.

As communities continue to recover from the ongoing effects of the pandemic, isolation and lack of consistency has had a significant impact on the social and emotional development of children. The last few years have spotlighted several inequities.

The impact of the pandemic on social determinants of health paired with access to resources such as housing, employment, healthcare, and education have created major challenges and disruptions in the lives of families – specifically communities of color and those in poverty.

Help is on the way

One of Michigan’s most comprehensive providers of mental health counseling, substance use treatment, and family services, Arbor Circle serves thousands of individuals and families each year. With deep roots in West Michigan, Arbor Circle collaborates with local resources to address needs in the community.

Steelcase Foundation connects resources with people by providing grants to nonprofit organizations focused on cultivating thriving communities through education and quality learning experiences.

Together, these two organizations have a common goal.

Removing barriers for a healthier life

Arbor Circle works to remove barriers and meet the mental health needs of children, their parents and caregivers where they are.

A variety of support services will be delivered to the community through the grant (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com

The Steelcase Foundation funds will support services throughout the community, including skill building for parents and caregivers, support for children in meeting both developmental and educational milestones, and specialized mental health support.

“We are deeply grateful to partner with The Steelcase Foundation in this way, and are honored to work together in ensuring that children and families have the tools they need to thrive,” said Kristin Gietzen, President and CEO of Arbor Circle. “We are energized by this support and see great potential in the multi-generational and community-focused approach woven into this project.”

To learn more about Arbor Circle’s children and family services, visit https://arborcircle.org/help/children-families/.

Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan surpasses expectations with 100 life-saving surgeries

2-row, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, medical moment, West Michigan, ,
The Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan completed its 100th surgery at University of Michigan Health-West (Courtesy, UMHW)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Ten months since launching the state’s newest open-heart surgery program, the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan completed its 100th surgery at University of Michigan Health-West, surpassing its first-year goal of 50 operations.

The program gives West Michigan patients greater choice and access to top-rated care close to home while also reducing costs. The Grand Rapids market was previously the largest in the state with a single open-heart program.

The UMHW cardiovascular operating room has state-of-the-art equipment (Courtesy, UMHW)

UM Health-West CEO Dr. Peter Hahn said the milestone is a testament to the collaboration and meticulous preparation that led to the program launch last October.

“Before we saw a single patient, we built and equipped a state-of-the-art operating room. We assembled a team of leading heart surgeons and cardiovascular experts, and we designed protocols to ensure our first patient could have the same expectation of excellence as our 100th patient,” Hahn said. “We intend to continue building on that success.”

Dr. Alphonse DeLucia III, who leads the UM Health-West cardiac surgery team, said the program’s success shows the genius of the model established by the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan. The joint operating agreement leverages the expertise of Trinity Health Muskegon, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, UM Health-West, and more than 125 years of cardiovascular leadership from University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor.

“Patients no longer have to wonder if they are getting the best option for care,” DeLucia said. “Patients go through their own cardiologist. If advanced cardiovascular care becomes necessary, the Network provides the collective expertise from all four programs to evaluate each case and ensure the best possible treatment.”

Trinity Health provides access to some of the most accomplished surgeons in the state (Courtesy, UMHW)

Whether surgery takes place at Trinity Health Muskegon or at UM Health-West in Wyoming, the Network provides access to some of the most accomplished surgeons in the state. These surgeons have decades of experience and have performed thousands of operations.

Another aspect that sets the program apart, said Dr. Theodore Boeve, a cardiothoracic surgeon based at Trinity Health Muskegon, is that it draws on the renowned cardiovascular expertise of University of Michigan.

“Some of the greatest advances in cardiovascular medicine and surgery got their start in Ann Arbor, and Michigan Medicine continues to be a leader in improving outcomes for patients with heart disease,” Boeve said, noting patients benefit from the latest research and clinical trials. “This opens an entirely new scope of treatment options.”

UM Health-West Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronald Grifka said the early success confirms that the cardiac surgery program and the Network are addressing a critical necessity for the fastest-growing region of the state.

The overwhelming success of the cardiovascular program has encouraged plans for further expansion (Courtesy, UMHW)

“The fact that we expect to perform close to 125 surgeries in our first 12 months – and possibly 200 in our second year – shows West Michigan needed more options in the fight against heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death,” Grifka said. “We are making a direct impact on the quality of life for our patients across the region.”

Dr. Himanshu Patel, Executive Director of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan says the overwhelming success of the program has encouraged plans for further expansion and advancements.

“Expansion in the next decade is not a matter of if, but when,” Patel said. “We are confident of this, just as we fully expect to continue delivering more breakthroughs and sophisticated treatments for our patients.”

Kidney transplant patient celebrates 50 years of kidney health

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, medical moment, ,



Guadalupe Alejos (Courtesy, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)



By Trinity Health


In 1973, Guadalupe Alejos was one of the first to undergo a kidney transplant at what is now known as Trinity Health Grand Rapids. Fifty years later, that kidney is still functioning and has allowed him to lead a full, happy and productive life. He raised his family and now enjoys his retirement years.

Today, doctors tell their patients a kidney from a living donor lasts an average of 15 to 20 years, and from a deceased donor, 10 to 15 years. The longevity of Alejos’ kidney is miraculous.

The future didn’t look that bright back in the mid-1960s when he was diagnosed with a degenerative kidney disease called glomerularnephritis, which affected both of his kidneys. For several years, Alejos held the disease at bay with medication. In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Lupe.

Lupe (left) and Guadalupe Alejos. (Courtesy, Trinity Health of Grand Rapids)

“When I married him, I knew he was sick,” Lupe said. “I knew what I was getting into. Your heart rules.”


Both Alejos and his wife have a great faith in God, which permeates their daily living.

By 1973 at the age of 27, Alejos’ kidneys were barely functioning, and he was so ill that Lupe found him collapsed, unable to walk. He began dialysis, and Dr. William Bouman (now retired) told him his only hope was a kidney transplant.

The hospital was just starting a transplant program, and Dr. Bouman – one of its founders – cautioned Alejos that the transplant procedure was still unproven.

“I was so sick, that even if my chances [of survival] were 10 percent, I’d have taken it,” he said.

His six brothers were tested as potential donors, and his oldest brother, Vincente, agreed to give Alejos one of his kidneys. Following the transplant, Vincente has had no issues living with just one kidney.

On July 23, 1973, Dr. Robert Levine (now deceased) – another of the program’s founders – performed what then was a new and rare procedure in Grand Rapids, transplanting the kidney into Alejos’ abdomen. The diseased kidneys were not removed, so he actually has three kidneys.

Every six months, Alejos visits the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center, and follows a healthy lifestyle to keep his kidney functioning. For 25 years, he worked in social services for the State of Michigan, retiring in 2001.

“Without the transplant, I would have been gone long ago,” Alejos said.

Lupe said, “I thank God every day. Thank you for giving us every day to enjoy life.”



The Alejos family also have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and proudly display her statue at their home. They attribute Alejos’ transplant success to Our Lady’s intervention.

Our Lady of Guadalupe statue. (Courtesy, Trinity Health of Grand Rapids)

Because of his transplant, Alejos and his wife have been able to travel to Mexico and California to visit family members during these past five decades. The couple has also enjoyed raising their three children, who have given them seven grandchildren. “Now we are waiting for great grandchildren,” Lupe said with a smile.

As they reflected on the care they received at Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Alejos and Lupe shared their thoughts.


“Trinity Health Grand Rapids is a hospital you can trust for a kidney transplant and other health issues. I was so lucky to have dedicated doctors who took care of all my needs. The hospital has caring and attentive people. I would recommend them by all means,” Alejos said. “God works in mysterious ways. I think He chose those doctors to help me and others, and to use them for His purpose.”

Lupe added her thoughts as well: “I am so grateful to God, Vincente and the doctors for the years we have had together. I’ve had my share of illness too. And Guadalupe was able to be there for me because of his transplant.”

The couple’s gratitude also extends to organ donors, especially living kidney donors.

If you decide to do it,” Lupe said. “May God bless you. That is a big gift. I can’t say enough to those who decide to do it.”

Since 1973, The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center has performed close to 3,000 kidney transplants. It is the first and only kidney transplant center in Michigan to partner with the National Kidney Registry, an extra avenue of hope for hard-to-match patients.

One of the latest technological innovations, robotic live donor nephrectomy, has created even more opportunities for live kidney donations for our patients. Transplantation services are provided by the most experienced multidisciplinary kidney transplant team – composed of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, social workers, referral coordinators, financial coordinators, and medical assistants – in West Michigan.

To learn more about the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center, visit https://www.trinityhealthmichigan.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/kidney-transplants/

How This Hospice Provider is Building, Retaining Team Members Amid a Critical Labor Shortage

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Hospice care team members who feel well-taken care of are better equipped to take care of patients. (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)

By Emmanuel Hospice

It’s no secret the health care industry is experiencing a critical staffing shortage – and hospice is not immune from the trend.

According to a 2022-23 Hospice Salary & Benefits Report, turnover rates for registered hospice nurses reached 25.15% last year. Nurses also accounted for 16.97% of vacancies. Hospice aides and certified nurse aides, or CNAs, also represented a large percentage of job vacancies and saw high turnover rates, 19.05% and 29.84%, respectively. Providers have also reported shortages among social workers and nonclinical staff.

Overcoming this challenge requires a multi-faceted approach to recruit and retain team members. Candidates are seeking a better work culture that is supportive and collaborative, better compensation and benefits and a better organizational focus on patient care – not the bottom line.

Since its inception, Emmanuel Hospice has been working to differentiate itself in these areas. In addition to providing competitive pay, great mileage reimbursement, paid self-care days and holidays, among other benefits, the nonprofit leans on a thoughtful culture.

“We’re unique,” says Katie Joseph, Emmanuel’s Human Relations generalist. “Number one, we’re independent, so we’re not tied into a larger system where you can get bogged down in red tape.

“We’re very nimble, which makes us able to try new things easily. All of us are under one roof, so if someone has an idea, we’re apt to try it, especially if it shows promise of helping those we serve.”

Another way Emmanuel sets itself apart is by offering a wide array of complementary therapies – everything from essential oils to its Art Legacy program.

“Because of that spirit, we find ourselves with more tools in our tool kit,” Joseph says. “And that translates to more creativity and more opportunities to reach out to our patients and their families.”

Joseph emphasizes a third hallmark: The way Emmanuel’s leadership team cares for its staff members.

“We really do care for our employees,” she says. “We can’t take care of our patients if we aren’t also taking care of ourselves. When someone on our team says ‘What can I do for you today?’ they’re really asking that in a genuine way. Because we know if you’re feeling well-taken care of, you’re better equipped to do that for others.”

According to Joseph, the Emmanuel Hospice culture – its beliefs and values – is imbedded into every aspect of the organization, and to a newcomer, it’s evident from the first interview.

“We are intentionally thoughtful,” she says, “and from feedback we receive, we’re known for our transparency and supportive nature. We want our people to succeed, and in expressing that, nobody is ever treated like a number, like just another worker. In short, we care.”

Something called “vital behaviors” are also baked into everyday life at Emmanuel. Those are statements and affirmations that help all employees understand expectations, codes of conduct and the importance of consistent messaging.

“We start by assuming good intentions of one another,” says Joseph. “We believe in doing what we do and doing it well. And we’re life-long learners.

“Not only do we incorporate these behaviors into everything we do, but we are constantly reminding our staff of them through emails and other updates that stress respect and open communication. We want the best out of ourselves and one another.”

Emmanuel is also very thorough about its onboarding process for new employees, which involves careful transitioning and plenty of room for questions and feedback.

“We want someone to know ahead of time what a situation might require. It’s not unusual for a nurse to spend a half day with a massage or music therapist. That helps each team member realize what another does, and how it all fits together.

“How we all fit together.”

To learn more, visit EmmanuelHospice.org.

Financial Perspectives: How does long term care insurance work?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Finances, Health, Local Business, Senior Living

By Dave Stanley
Integrity Financial Service, LLC

(Courtesy, Pxhere.com)

Understanding insurance can sometimes feel like you’re trying to decode a foreign language. But don’t worry! I’m here to help break down one type of insurance that’s important as we or our loved ones age – long term care insurance.

Starting with the basics, long term care insurance is designed to help cover the cost of services that assist with activities of daily living. These activities can include things like bathing, dressing, eating, or even moving around. The need for assistance with these activities could be due to aging, an illness, an accident, or a chronic condition.

It’s important to remember that long term care isn’t just provided in nursing homes. It can also be provided in your own home, in community centers, or assisted living facilities. In fact, a lot of folks prefer to receive care at home or in more home-like settings whenever possible.

Now, let’s get into how the insurance part works. When you purchase a long-term care insurance policy, you’ll pay a premium to the insurance company. This is usually a monthly or annual fee, just like with other types of insurance.

In return, if you need long term care services, the insurance company will pay a set amount towards your care. The amount they’ll pay and the types of services they’ll cover are outlined in your policy. Make sure you understand these details when you buy your policy!

One thing to note is that there is often an “elimination period,” or waiting period, before the insurance company starts to pay for your care. This could be anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on your policy. Think of it as a deductible, but instead of a dollar amount, it’s a period of time.

Also, just like most things in life, long term care insurance comes with limits. There might be a limit on how much the policy will pay per day, or there might be a total limit that the policy will pay over your lifetime. If the cost of your care goes over these limits, you’ll be responsible for paying the difference.

Here are a few tips about finding the right type of policy for your needs. 
Finding the right long-term care insurance policy is a very personal process that depends on many factors, such as your health, age, financial situation, and personal preferences.

  

Begin by evaluating your potential need for long-term care. Consider your current health status and family history. Do chronic or debilitating health conditions run in your family? What is your current lifestyle like? Are you physically active or do you have any habits that could affect your future health, like smoking or excessive drinking?

Next, consider your financial situation. The cost of long-term care insurance can be quite high, especially if you wait until you’re older to purchase a policy. Can you afford the premiums now, and will you be able to afford them in the future if they increase? Also, consider the other resources you might have to pay for long-term care, such as savings, investments, or family support. You may want to consult with a financial advisor to help you evaluate your situation.

Then, think about what kind of care you might want. Would you prefer to receive care at home for as long as possible, or are you open to receiving care in a facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living facility? The type of care you prefer can affect the kind of policy you should look for.

When comparing policies, pay close attention to the policy’s benefit triggers, which are the conditions that must be met for you to receive benefits. Most policies use a certain number of activities of daily living (ADLs) as a benefit trigger. The six ADLs are eating, bathing, getting dressed, toileting, transferring, and continence. Typically, if you need help with at least two ADLs, you qualify for benefits.

  

Finally, don’t rush your decision. Take your time to understand all the details of the policies you’re considering. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. A good insurance agent or broker who specializes in long-term care insurance can be a valuable resource in finding the right policy for you.

Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or  Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463  or click this link:  Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.com  Dave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.

For Debra, Care Resources has been a life-changer

3-bottom, Community Health, Health, Senior Living,

By Care Resources

As a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, Care Resources provides wraparound support services funded by Medicare and Medicaid to help people like Debra live a healthier and more independent life. (Courtesy, Care Resources)

Care Resources, a community-based program for people 55 years or older, enjoys being a lot of things to a lot of people, but for Debra, it transformed her life.

“I am,” she says with a hearty laugh, “a different person.”

Born and raised in Chicago, Debra, age 72, never knew her mother, who died while giving birth to her. She was raised by her father and a grandmother, staying in Illinois until she was about 20, working after graduating high school as a cashier in a grocery store.

She attended college for a couple of years, while simultaneously raising three children as a single mother. Her son and both daughters served in the United States armed services – the Army, Navy and Air Force, to be precise.

A self-described “people person,” Debra loved the give-and-take that came with working in retail jobs, and later, as a maid in hotels.

“I got to meet people from all over the world,” she recalls. “I so enjoyed listening to different languages being spoken.”

She moved to Michigan when her father purchased property here, moving to a small town outside of South Haven, where her children attended school and later launched their military careers.

After retiring and moving to Grand Rapids in 2019, she became ill with disorders she says were never properly diagnosed.

“I couldn’t really move hardly at all,” she says. “I couldn’t do anything for myself, and relied on my two daughters to wash me, to feed me.”

She suffered a bad fall from her bed, prompting her son-in-law – an employee at Care Resources – to insist she be seen by the organization’s medical team.

It was a transforming decision, giving her access to comprehensive health care services funded by Medicare and Medicaid.

“They came right to my house and did everything they had to do to assess me,” she said. “They got me a wheelchair. They got me a special bed.”

With these support services, Debra’s health improved markedly, to a point where she became able care for herself and control her daily affairs of living.

“I went from not walking, to a wheelchair, to a walker, to walking on my own,” she says proudly. “I did the therapy, the exercises – everything they told me to do.”

Today, she’s a regular at Care Resources’ headquarters on 4150 Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Grand Rapids, which features a day center, clinic and pharmacy. She boards the organization’s transportation bus to get there, and spends her time connecting with friends, playing Bingo, crafting and enjoying meals, among other activities.

Looking back, Debra credits Care Resources with putting her on the road to independence and keeping her in her own home rather than a nursing facility. That’s a hallmark of Care Resources, which provides medical care and a wide array of home health services to more than 300 participants in Kent County and portions of Allegan, Barry, Ionia and Ottawa counties.

“Did they change my life?” asks Debra. “They surely did! I was down and out and didn’t want to go anywhere or see anyone or do anything. But they wouldn’t let me stay down. They helped and encouraged me, cheered me up and never gave up on me.

“If it weren’t for them, I would not be walking today.”

Debra is still reeling from her first visit ever to Michigan’s Capitol building in Lansing, where she helped raise awareness of Care Resources as a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, organization. Debra was one of several participants who shared personal stories with legislators about the impact of PACE on their lives.

To other older adults in West Michigan seeking ways to improve their lives, she suggests they visit Care Resources and “just come watch what they do; they’re like little bees buzzing around because everyone is just so eager to help others.”

To learn more about Care Resources and PACE services, visit CareResources.org.

Faith Hospice opens new healing pavilion

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Kent County, Senior Living

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

In May, Faith Hospice, Holland Home’s hospice division, opened the doors to the Van Andel Hope & Healing Pavilion, which is located in the lower lever of Trillium Woods, in Byron Center.

The Van Andel Hope & Healing Pavilion opened in May. (Courtesy, Faith Hospice)

The project was completed due to the support of the Van Andel family with leadership of Amy Van Andel, a former Faith Hospice nurse.

The project allows all Faith Hospice staff and volunteers to work together under one roof and meets the growing needs for bereavement services for the families Faith Hospice serves across West Michigan.

Key features of the new facility include:

Grief Support Center

This new center will provide private and individual grief counseling as well as comfortable group and family counseling and gatherings. The center will allow space for comforting those struggling with the trauma of loss as well as space for community seminars and education.

Hospice Training & Education Lab

This training facility will create a Hospice Patient Care space to train staff and volunteers through role playing and skills testing, allowing for an enhanced care experience for patients and their loved ones.

Consolidated Office Space & Staff Renewal Area

Bringing all Faith Hospice staff under one roof will allow for better collaboration when caring for patients, whether they are inpatient at Trillium Woods or living in the community. The space includes an area for staff and volunteer respite and renewal.

“The Van Andel family are great friends of the organization, starting with Jay and Betty,” said Holland Home President and Chief Executive Officer Troy Vugteveen. “The Van Andel Hope and Healing Pavilion will continue to honor their parents and carry on the tradition to provide shelter to the hearts of those grieving. We are so grateful for Steve and Amy Van Andel and the blessing they continue to be.”

Built in 2006, Trillium Woods, 8214 Pfeiffer Farms Drive S.W, offers 20 private rooms and a peaceful, family-centered atmosphere with 24/7 medical care. The organization had only utilized the upper floor of the two-level walkout building for its inpatient care with the intent of using the lower level for additional education and administrative use. 

The Inspiration

The inspiration for the center came from Faith Hospice Bereavement Manager Janet Jaymin and NFL official and West Michigan resident Carl Paganelli. After Janet walked with Carl on his grief journey following the death of his wife, Cathy, in 2016. Carl’s and Janet’s mission was to create a peaceful, private environment for those grieving as they seek grief counseling. Amy Van Andel, Nancy Erhardt and the late Dan Pfeiffer joined as campaign co-chairs and successfully completed a $2 million fundraising campaign to create this much-needed grief support and bereavement center.

A counseling room in the new Van Andel Hope & Healing (Courtesy, Faith Hospice)

“Walking alongside loved ones after they’ve experienced loss is such an important part of the hospice experience,” said Amy Van Andel. “We hope that having a facility dedicated to those who are grieving that offers resources to guide them on their journey will help families begin to heal and feel hope for the future.”

The Van Andel name is a continuation of the family’s involvement with Holland Home, which dates back to 1998 when the Van Andel Pavilion was constructed at Holland Home’s former Fulton Manor location. Funds for that facility were donated in honor of the late Betty Van Andel. Transferring the name from the former Fulton location was a natural fit for the family, allowing them to continue to honor their parents’ legacy.
  

UM Health-West expands two programs

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

UMH-West staff, Wayland City officials and Kasco Construction Services representatives at the site of the new Wayland Center. (Courtesy, UMH-West)
UMH-West staff and city officials signed the beam before it was placed. (Courtesy, UMH-West)

University of Michigan Health-West has had two landmark events happen in the last past couple of weeks — the nonprofit health system hosted a beam-topping celebration for is new Wayland Health Center and received about $3.1 million in gifts for its cardiovascular care and advanced open-heart surgery program.

On June 5, University of Michigan Health-West staff, Wayland city leaders and Kasco Construction Services representatives participated in a final beam-topping celebration for the new UM Health-West Wayland Health Center, located at 1113 West Superior St., Wayland.

The center, which is scheduled to open in May of 2024, will be more than 75 percent larger than the current office, encompassing 17,300 square feet. The new building also includes future expansion capabilities of 5,230 square feet.

The second building to be designed and constructed in UMH-West’s new image, closely following the Allendale Health Center, the Wayland center will have 39 exam/procedure rooms, which is 20 more than the current facility and 115 parking spaces, which is 42 more than the current facility. The expansion will allow UM Health-West to add primary care and specialty providers to meet the needs of the region’s growing population.

Gift to Cardiovascular Care

At the end of May, UMH-West officials announced a group of community leaders has invested in the health of West Michigan with gifts totaling $3.1 million, opening a new era of cardiovascular care and advanced open-heart surgery.

Peter Hahn, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Metro Health – University of Michigan Health (Supplied)

The gifts collectively are among the largest the nonprofit health system has ever received. Contributions have come from a group of West Michigan leaders, including UM Health-West Foundation emeritus board member Stephen Klotz and family, and a transformational gift from the Steve and Amy Van Andel Foundation.

“This is a landmark moment in the lives of heart patients for generations to come,” said Dr. Peter Hahn, UMH-West president and CEO. “A new era of cardiovascular care begins today, thanks to a group of people who have invested in making West Michigan a vibrant and thriving community.”

UM Health-West launched the state’s newest open-heart surgery program in 2022 at its hospital in Wyoming through the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan. That joint operating agreement forms a regionwide clinical team with Trinity Health in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, while also drawing on more than 125 years of cardiovascular leadership at UM’s Frankel Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor.

“West Michigan patients now have even greater local access to leading heart experts, researchers and surgeons – and that’s just the beginning. We know that there are more exciting advancements ahead,” said Steve Van Andel, who also serves as chairman of the UM Health-West board of directors. “Amy and I are so proud to support UM Health-West’s mission to provide innovative treatment options and excellent care right here in our hometown.”

Hahn noted the launch of the open-heart surgery program opens the door to even more advanced cardiovascular care and paves the way for future breakthroughs.

“We are building a region-leading cardiovascular program, a destination for people seeking the best options in their fight against heart disease,” Hahn said. “This gift brings that better future within reach.”

“Before open-heart surgery began at UM Health-West, Grand Rapids was the state’s largest market limited to a single option for open-heart surgery,” said UM Health-West Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ronald Grifka.

“Thanks to the support of the Van Andels and other forward-thinking donors, the people of Grand Rapids now have choice,” Grifka said. “That’s important, because not only is heart disease the No. 1 cause of death, it’s also a leading driver of healthcare cost. With choice and increased local access to world-class care, we help keep care local and expenses down. That’s good for everyone.”

The gifts were announced at the UM Health-West Foundation’s annual fundraising gala, Vitality, which this year emphasized support for the system’s growing cardiovascular programs.

Groundbreaking ceremony held for new behavioral hospital in Byron Center

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Kent County, Local Business, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Members of Trinity Health Michigan and Universal Health Services along with community leaders helped to break ground on the new Southridge Behavioral Hospital. (courtesy, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)

On Monday, Trinity Health Michigan and University Health Services (Ny’SE: UHS) broke ground for a new behavioral health hospital that will be located just south of the City of Wyoming in Byron Center.

Southridge Behavioral Hospital, which a joint venture partnership between NYSE: UHS and Trinity Health, will be located right near the Trinity Health Medical Center at 2145 64th St. SW in Byron Center. 

“Southridge Behavioral Hospital, which will open in 2025, will help address the growing need for high quality mental and behavioral health care services for people struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use and other issues, and who need hospitalization and intensive individualized care,” said Dr. Matt Biersack, president of Trinity Health Grand Rapids. “Southridge represents a sustainable, long-term solution and it will be a key piece of the behavioral health care continuum in West Michigan.”

Kelly Smith, chief strategy officer for Trinity Health Michigan, said the new behavioral hospital will accommodate up to 96 beds, serving adult and geriatric patients. The facility is estimated to employ approximately 170 full-time and part-time staff including physicians, nurses, therapists, mental health technicians, administration, dietary and housekeeping personnel. Programming will be tailored to individual patient needs, with core psychiatric services and counseling supplemented with art therapy, music therapy and outdoor activities.

“Right here, where we gather today, you will see a new beautiful state-of-the-art facility,” said Sheila Adams, vice president of corporate development for Universal Health Services. “It will feature design elements that will create an optimal therapeutic environment with serene decor and furnished with warm and inviting finishes. We will create a space that enhances safety and promotes healing resembling a hospitality environment rather than an institutional type setting.”

The Southridge Behavioral Hospital is designed to tie into the growing network of behavioral health services in the area, including UHS-operated Forest View Hospital and Trinity Health Michigan’s new partnership with Network 180 to open a Behavioral Health Crisis Center for the rapid availability of assessment services on a walk-in basis.

 

For more about Southridge Behavioral Hospital, including what the hospital’s interior will look like, visit www.southridgebh.com. 

Volunteers needed for May 23 tree planting in Godfrey-Lee area

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Environment, Health, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

In the fall of 2020, the Wyoming Tree Commission (The Tree Amigos), with volunteer helped planted trees in the Godfrey-Lee area. (Courtesy, Wyoming Tree Commission)

Whether it be the shade from a hot summer day to the colorful leaves dropping that add nature’s beauty in the fall, trees can provide a natural respite for a community as well as improve air and water quality.

However, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, underserved communities tend to have fewer trees than other city neighborhoods and local organizations working to add tree canopy to those areas can face unique challenges.

To help make a difference in one such area are  three organizations, the City of Wyoming Tree Commission – The Tree Amigos, the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, and ReLeaf Michigan. Tuesday, May 23, the groups will come together to plant 20 trees at the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, 961 Joosten St. SW, to plant 20 trees. Volunteers also are being sought to help with the project.

Building Shade Equity

“We are working in Godfrey Lee for two reasons,” said Estelle Slootmaker, who is a member and founder of Tree Commission (The Tree Amigos), which noted the group has planted trees in the Godfrey-Lee district in the past. “The area’s canopy has been disastrously decreased by storms and development.

“The neighborhood, like many U.S. neighborhoods experiencing income challenges, lacks shade equity. Shaded neighborhoods promote mental health, reduce crime, have cleaner air with less asthma and other breathing conditions, and higher property values.”

The other reason the commission has selected the Godfrey-Lee area was because of the advocacy of volunteers Susan VanBronkhorst and Rosemary Davis, who have advocated for planting in the neighborhood, and because of Godfrey-Lee science teacher Deb Truszkowski, who has been working to get The Tree Amigos active with the district.

Truszkowski said it was a National Geographic article that raised her awareness for the lack of tree canopies in underserved areas. She teaches a world disasters course at the high school which focuses on climate change.

“We are currently looking into areas that lack tree canopies and how that affects a community,” Truszkowski said, adding the classes have been discussing how redlining, where lenders refused loans to people living in a certain area, impacted a neighborhood and its environment, such as parks, green space and trees.

Students from two of Truszkowski’s classes will participate in the planting along with talking to volunteers and learning from ReLeaf Michigan.

Volunteer Opportunities

ReLeaf Michigan, a 35-year-old non-profit organization, partners with communities statewide to replenish community tree canopies through volunteer tree planting events. In 2022, the DTE Foundation granted $350,000 to ReLeaf for tree plantings in communities throughout the state.

Slootmaker said ReLeaf is providing the 20 trees and the organization’s forester helped select the planting sites. On planting day, ReLeaf representatives will be there to provide instruction and supervise the plantings.

 

“They will be providing information on the proper way to plant and for the trees,” Slootmacher said, adding it is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to learn more about planting and green spaces.

Those interested in volunteering — no planting experience is necessary — should wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing and bring a shovel, hard rake, and work gloves if they have them. The group will meet at Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center located, 961 Joosten St. SW, at 8:45 a.m. to sign in, enjoy refreshments, and watch a planting demonstration with ReLeaf Michigan’s tree experts.The event occurs rain or shine. 

Senior Expo returns to the Meijer Gardens

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Senior Living,

By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor

The Senior Expo will take place on May 24 at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens)

In many ways, a walk around the building and grounds of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the perfect place for a bit of physical and mental health “me time” for local senior community members.

And what better time to visit than the return of the free-to-the-public West Michigan Senior Expo at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration to the expo also offers free admission to the Meijer Gardens indoor and outdoor art and gardens.

To pre-register for the event, visit here.

Local group attending focused on mental health

The range of senior — and senior caregiver — advocacy and service groups attending the Senior Expo is expected to include more than 50 Grand Rapids and West Michigan organizations that specialize assisted living, Alzheimer’s information, home care, Veterans benefits, mobility solutions, Medicare and much more.

More than 50 local and regional organizations will be present at the West Michigan Senior Expo at Meijer Gardens. (courtesy, Meijer Gardens)

For one local health-care organization, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, attending the expo and serving the senior community is a calling as much as a business opportunity.

“We view the seniors who turn to us for care as our friends, our grandparents, and our neighbors because that’s who they are,” Matt Hiskes, spokesperson for Pine Rest. “We value and offer a full continuum of services for seniors because they are an essential part of the community that makes West Michigan great.”

Hiskes also stressed that mental health is as important as physical health for seniors.

“Individuals often face some of the most challenging aspects of life during their senior years: housing changes, loss of family members and friends, individual medical concerns, loss of mobility, and changing family dynamics,” Hiskes said. “These issues can be incredibly impactful on a person’s mental well-being, yet many individuals never seek the help they need.

“It’s important for seniors to know that help is available, that there is no shame in seeking mental health care, and that people can live better, longer lives when they focus on caring for their mental health.”

Health care screenings and a stroll through art, nature 

The “rain or shine” expo will be held in-doors and will offer a variety of free health screenings — not to mention hourly prize drawings, giveaways and complimentary refreshments.

 

Among the groups and businesses expected to attend are BP Realty, Baldwin House, Battle Creek VA Media Center, Boichot Insurance Agency, Care Resources PACE (GR), Center for Vein Restoration, Eden Home Care, Estate Planning Legal Services, Grand Brook Memory Care, Health Alliance Plan, Hearing Life, Life EMS Ambulance, Lincoln Square Senior Living Holiday by Atria (GR), McDonald Hearing Services, National Benefit Plans, Neptune Society, Sentinel Pointe Retirement Community, St. Ann’s Home, United Healthcare, and Victory Financial Insurance Agency.

After the event, attendees can enjoy the recently opened indoor exhibit of “Cristina Iglesias: Under and In Between”. Running through September, the exhibition surveys 20 years of work from one of Spain’s most renowned artists. The exhibit includes the artist’s “Pozo XI”, recently installed in the Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden as part of Meijer Garden’s permanent sculpture collection.

And if you haven’t been on the grounds lately, a somber but powerful stop should be Jerusalem-born artist Ariel Schlesinger’s “Ways to Say Goodbye” located in the Holocaust Memorial Garden.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is located at 1000 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids. For more information visit meijergardens.org 

Hospice surfaces as special gift on Mother’s Day

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health,

By Emmanuel Hospice

Bea Blasingame (courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)

For Joan Mattson and her four siblings, it’s all about the subtle differences conveyed in such significant ways to define her mother’s journey with Emmanuel Hospice at her side.

Especially during this month, featuring Mother’s Day as a gentle touchstone.

“One of the Emmanuel Hospice aides, Tanya, always kisses the top of mom’s head before she leaves,” says Mattson, drawing a breath. “I mean, just that kindness. It means so much.”

Mattson’s mother, Bea Blasingame, is 87 and has been under Emmanuel’s care since late last year. Initially, it was difficult for Bea to accept and adjust, given her life-long sense of independence. She was also missing friends in rural Truman, Arkansas, where she and her late husband, Robert, spent most of their 67 years together.

These days, Bea resides in Mattson’s Grand Rapids area home following a series of seizures and discovery of a related tumor that have affected her speech, mobility and other aspects of her daily life.

With Mother’s Day coming up, Mattson relates that it’s bittersweet to wax nostalgic on how things used to be.

“My mom was a morning person,” Mattson recalls. “She might be up as early as four, and I can remember her going into the cold kitchen and standing on a rug by the register where the heat came up, saying her prayers and reading the Bible.

“And if you know how noise carries through those vents, well, her voice would come to me in my bedroom, and that’s just a very special memory.”

Mattson’s sister, Barb Raymond, says Emmanuel Hospice has been helping the family harvest and express those remembrances as they work to make their mother’s final months as comfortable as possible. In return, Bea personally thanks her Emmanuel Hospice care team – by name, when she can – during evening prayer.

One time, she couldn’t quite recall specifically one Emmanuel team member, but knew she was a spiritual caregiver. “The shepherd,” she managed to whisper. In another instance, she couldn’t conjure the name of a therapist who comes with her guitar and harp to sing hymns and more with her. “Bless the ‘music-maker,’” she offered.

Bea Blasingame makes a hand mold with the help of Emmanuel Hospice staff. (courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)

Indeed, music and prayer have always loomed large in Bea’s life. She led songs at her church, sang solos and played the accordion. Her favorite Bible verse is from Psalms: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Losing her husband – whom she married at 17 (she fibbed her age up to 18 on the legal document) – was tough four years ago. COVID made the grieving worse.

When Bea fell ill last winter, her son and four daughters helped her battle back, but eventually, it was decided hospice care would be best. The whole family shares their mother’s gratefulness for Emmanuel Hospice. In addition to providing medical care, the nonprofit has prioritized making space for opportunities to create lasting memories and have joyful experiences as they cherish time together.

“We don’t know where we’d be without Emmanuel,” Mattson says. “I think honestly that God has had a hand in all of this, in having Emmanuel beside us.”

Raymond adds: “We’re just floored with the quality of people at Emmanuel. What they provide is just beyond what any one of us expected.”

To learn more about hospice care, visit EmmanuelHospice.org.

Trinity Health first in the area to offer Aquablation Therapy

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health

Maggie Carey
WKTV Contributor

Trinity Health Grand Rapids, a leading medical facility in West Michigan, has become the first and only hospital in the area to offer Aquablation therapy, a new and innovative treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or benign enlarged prostate.

Dr. Navneet Mander

BPH is a non-cancerous condition where the prostate grows larger than normal, causing difficulty urinating and putting pressure on the bladder, which can lead to irreversible bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones, and incontinence if left untreated. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, benign prostatic hyperplasia affects about 50 percent of men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90 percent of men older than 80.

Aquablation therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that uses imaging, robotics, and a heat-free waterjet to safely remove prostate tissue. This innovative therapy is supported by clinical studies that show long-lasting relief and lower rates of irreversible complications, such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence, for prostates of all sizes. It also provides significant symptom relief for men with large prostates.

 

Aquablation therapy is the first and only FDA-cleared, surgical robot using automated tissue resection for the treatment of LUTS (Lower urinary tract symptoms) due to BPH. It combines real-time, multi-dimensional imaging, automated robotics, and heat-free waterjet ablation for targeted, controlled, and immediate removal of prostate tissue.

Navneet Mander, MD, a urologist at Trinity Health Grand Rapids, expressed excitement about this new treatment option for his patients, stating that “Aquablation therapy is a new and exciting option for these patients and the next step to furthering our commitment to men’s health. This solution can provide significant, long-lasting symptom relief with lower risk to their sexual function or continence.”

Aquablation therapy offers a safe and effective alternative to existing surgical treatments for BPH, which may have potential adverse effects on sexual function and continence. For many men, the negative side effects of BPH medications can be a significant concern.

 

Aquablation therapy provides a safe and effective alternative to allow these patients to minimize, and potentially discontinue, the need for these BPH medications. The medical community has embraced Aquablation therapy for its many benefits, including the potential for fewer irreversible complications, faster recovery times, and shorter hospital stays.

Trinity Health Grand Rapids is leading the way in West Michigan by offering Aquablation therapy as a new and exciting treatment option for men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH. 

Kent County residents asked to complete health survey

3-bottom, Health, ,

By Maggie Carery
WKTV Contributor

Kent County residents will be chosen at random for the Behavior Risk Facto Surveillance Systems survey. (Pxhere.com)

Starting in mid April, Kent County residents will be receiving phone calls asking for participation in the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (BRFSS) survey. The University of Missouri’s Health and Behavioral Risk Research Center will be conducting the survey and phone calls on behalf of the Kent County Health Department (KCHD).

The Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (BRFSS) survey is used to track the health of Kent County’s population and is conducted every three years at a local level. It is one of the nation’s largest telephone health-related surveys.

The Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (BRFSS) survey is run by the county to collect data on health conditions, various behaviors, and preventative health care practices. A behavior risk factor is an unhealthy behavior that can be changed or prevented for an individual or community. Some common examples include tobacco use, excessive alcohol intake, lack of exercise, and poor nutrition.

 

The survey contains a set of core questions that are asked to all participants and if needed, additional questions are added to obtain more localized data on health-related behaviors and risks directly in Kent County. This year, additional questions on mental health, economic stability, health care access, racism, firearm safety, and marijuana use were added to the survey.

Residents living in Kent County over the age of 18 are randomly chosen and reached via landline or cell phone. The survey is anonymous and no information collected can be traced back to the participant. 

The county will then take the data received and analyze it by race, ethnicity, gender, education, income, and location to be used in the Kent County Community Health Needs Assessment and the Community Health Improvement Plan to help improve the health and well-being of Kent County residents.

 

To learn more about the survey visit www.accesskent.com/Health/BRFS, and if you have any questions feel free to reach out to CHNACHIP@kentcountymi.gov.

Mission Point incorporates latest UV-C disinfection technology

3-bottom, Health, Senior Living

By Maggie Carey
WKTV Contributor

One of the Mission Point Healthcare facilities utilizing the new UV-C disinfection technology is HealthBridge Post-Acute Rehabilitation located in Wyoming. (Courtesy, Mission Point Healthcare Services)

Mission Point Healthcare Services, in partnership with R-Zero, has announced the use of UV-C disinfection technology across its 27 Michigan locations, which includes locations in Grandville, Cedar Springs, Wyoming and Grand Rapids. UV-C light comes from special lamps that generate wavelengths of light between 200nm (nanometers) and 280nm that help kill germs, bacteria, pathogens, and viruses. R-Zero systems utilize this UV-C technology to neutralize approximately 99.99% of airborne microorganisms that are harmful to humans.

This new technology, which includes nearly 300 R-Zero Beam and Vive devices to be installed for continuous disinfection, will help to protect approximately 5,350 residents and staff across Mission Point facilities.

 

Mission Point is a full-service healthcare service and management company that utilized funding for this technology from the Infection Control Grants made available by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The MDHHS grants aim to support structural and operational improvements in skilled nursing facilities to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases across Michigan.

“The opportunity to deploy R-Zero’s proven air quality technology through a generous grant from MDHHS was a powerful combination for us,” said Mission Point COO Paul Pruitt.

Creating Healthy Environments

R-Zero is a global leader in creating healthy and green buildings with bio-safety technology. With the combination of UV-C light, space utilization sensor technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and IoT(internet of things)-connected hardware the company is able to create safe and sustainable environments without the use of chemicals.

R-Zero’s sustainable technology is currently being used across all of North America to protect millions of people in a multitude of environments including K-12 schools, college campuses, hospitals, parks and recreation centers, and government buildings/facilities.

 

“R-Zero is proud to partner with Mission Point Healthcare Services to drive forward their commitment to keeping residents and staff safe and living healthy and happy lives,” said R-Zero CEO Jennifer Nuckles.

This new UV-C disinfection technology will help support the safety and lives of those at Mission Point Healthcare Services and further Mission Point Healthcare’s steadfast commitment to protecting patients and staff.

To learn more about R-Zero and its mission, visit www.rzero.com. To learn more about Mission Point Healthcare Services, visit https://missionpointhealthcare.com/.

The Joe Show must go on, but new camera operator needed to make it happen

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Health, Non-Profits, ,
WKTV volunteer Joe DeJong has been the host of The Joe Show for the past three years. He is now looking for an assistant to help operate the camera and edit his show. (WKTV)

Editor’s Note: This story ran previously. The current producer needed to step away with The Joe Show now searching for a new camera operator/producer. If you are interested, contact WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org or call the office 616-261-5700.

By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer

Joe DeJong is not a guy who gives up easily.

For the past three years, DeJong has hosted a podcast called The Joe Show – Connecting All Abilities, which airs on WKTV and can also be found on Apple Podcasts and WKTV’s The Whole Picture Podcasts Facebook page.

The podcast discusses many issues around living with a disability, including ways the community can be more inclusive, as well as the dreams, needs and goals of people with disabilities.

But DeJong, who is blind, has been unable to produce new episodes of the show for the past few months because he lost his camera operator.

Joe DeJong with Erin App, the choir director for the Action Choir. (WKTV)

Now, he’s looking for a new camera person who can also provide transportation to the WKTV studio in Wyoming and help him line up guests.

“I can’t run the cameras because of my visual impairment. I can’t do it myself,” he said. “It’s disappointing to me to not be doing the show right now, but I’m a very patient person. I’m willing to wait until I can get somebody.”

DeJong, 28, has hosted 40 episodes of The Joe Show, featuring guests from the Special Olympics, the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Center, Disability Advocates of Kent County and many more. State Rep. Tommy Brann was a guest on one of his early podcasts in 2020.

DeJong has many ideas for where he’d like to take the show, but first, he needs to find someone to help run the camera.

Hiring the new person would be facilitated through GT Independence, a service that helps people with disabilities hire community-based caregivers of their choosing.

In addition to running the camera and providing transportation to and from the studio, DeJong envisions that the new assistant would also help him narrow down possible guests for the show by researching people and businesses that would be a good fit. DeJong would make the phone calls to book the guests, he said.

The time commitment would be a few hours a week, including driving to and from the studio, setting up and taping the half-hour show, and doing a little additional research to find guests.

Joe DeJong said he hopes to keep his show about abilities running but needs an assistance to do so. (WKTV)

“If we can find someone, then we can go from there, and give them the training on how to work the camera,” he said.

“I’m a guy that’s going to keep punching and keep advocating and keep fighting,” he said. “I’m not quitting.”

Anyone interested in working with DeJong on the show may contact him through WKTV at 616-261-5700 or by emailing WKTV Managing Editor, Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.

More information about GT Independence is online at gtindependence.com, or they can be reached by phone at 1-877-659-4500.  

U-M Health-West shares tips on preventing tick infections

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health,

By Dr. Del DeHart
Infectious Disease Specialist

University of Michigan Health-West

A combination of outdoor activity and warmer weather makes it more likely for residents to be exposed to ticks. (Pxhere.com)

Spring is here, and with warmer weather people are outside much more, which is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, ticks feel the same way and the combination of outdoor activity and warmer weather makes tick exposure more likely. With National Lyme Disease Awareness Month approaching in May, if you plan to spend time outdoors this spring and summer, there are things you should know about ticks and the diseases they spread.

Exposure risk:

  • Ticks are active from early spring to fall, and they like woodlands and grassy areas
  • Ticks vary in size as they develop over the year
  • While we think of exposure when we are out in the woods or grassy areas, many to most bites occur around our homes
  • Ticks are moving into some areas where they were not common in years past
  • Tick-borne diseases can be regional, so it is helpful to know common ticks or infections in your area
  • Use tick prevention for dogs too

Tick exposures and tick bites:

  • Preventing exposures is the first line of defense
  • When trekking in areas of higher risk wear tight-fitting clothing and tuck pants into socks
  • Check for ticks on clothing and on skin periodically
  • Remove any attached ticks quickly with tweezers
  • If a tick is engorged or has been attached for more than a few hours keep it for possible identification
  • Most common tick-borne infections are not transmitted quickly, but towards the end of the blood meal so early removal is very helpful
  • Rashes and bites may not be in an area where it will be noticed, and bites are often painless

When to seek medical advice:

  • If you develop a rash or fever after a bite or exposure to high risk area
    • In areas with high risk of Lyme disease and clear high-risk tick bite, prophylactic antibiotics may be prescribed
    • Save the tick: If the tick can be identified it can help with identifying specific infection risk. Tick identification can be helpful, but testing the tick for pathogens is a waste of money and time
      • Many commercial labs will nevertheless do this testing for lots of money
      • Any given tick may carry several pathogens
      • Infected ticks don’t regularly, or even commonly, transmit infections
    • Be aware the tick you find may not be the one that bit you, or the only one to which you were exposed

Resources

Recent video from the New England Journal of Medicine about ticks and tick diseases:


Excellent and comprehensive information for consumers and clinicians at the CDC can by found by clicking here.

Lastly, state health departments often offer information and help as well. For example, Michigan has a

free tick identification service with links available online.

About Del DeHart, MD

Dr. Del DeHart is an infectious disease specialist with University of Michigan Health-West.

About University of Michigan Health-West

The masks come off at many local health providers

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Emergency medical staff from Trinity Health Michigan photographed removing masks following an announcement that many local hospitals would be relaxing their mask requirements for employees, patients and visitors. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Michigan)

Starting today, many area health organizations are taking the masks off.

University of Michigan Health-West and Corewell Health have announced masks will be optional in most areas starting today with Trinity Health Michigan starting optional mask wearing on Monday, April 17.

For the facilities, the decision was made after reviewing recent COVID-19 medical data, and much considerations and conversations with leaders at other health systems. The move comes as the number of COVID-19 infections in West Michigan continues to decrease, and many community members have some level of immunity from immunization or prior infection. 

University of Michigan Health-West

Patients and visitors will not be required to wear masks in UMH-West facilities except when they are seeking medical care for respiratory symptoms of COVID-19, visiting patients in precautions for COVID-19, or if a household contact has COVID-19. The discontinuation of the mask mandate applies to both inpatient areas and ambulatory centers.

There are several situations in which healthcare team members will be required to continue masking, including interacting with patients who have an immunodeficiency, who have received a transplant, residing in long-term care facilities, have an acute respiratory illness, or who request the healthcare team to wear a mask.

“After more than three years since the pandemic changed our lives in many ways, we want to thank all of our patients, their families, and our staff members for their commitment to keeping each other safe by masking every day. The decision to discontinue the mask mandate is in recognition of the low number of COVID-19 patients and the immunity level of many community members,” said Dr. Ronald Grifka, Chief Medical Officer at UMH-West.

The UMH-West leadership team encourages everyone to continue to practice good hygiene habits, including covering coughs and sneezes and handwashing. Additionally, the hospital system continues to monitor COVID-19 cases closely and will take appropriate measures as needed to protect the health and safety of its patients, visitors, and staff members.

Trinity Health Michigan

Starting on April 17, there will be optional masking for patients, visitors and colleagues at hospitals, outpatient facilities, home health, and physical offices, except for senior living communities.

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

As of Thursday, April 13, employees and visitors are no longer required to wear a mask except in 24/7 patient care settings and specialty care units. Patients will continue to be screened/tested for COVID-19 at admission and are not required to mask unless endorsing symptoms f illness or diagnosed with COVID-19 infection.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation

Starting today, masking is recommended but optional for patients, visitor and clinical teams at the Grand Rapids hospital campus, West Michigan outpatient locations, and Mary Free Bed Orthotics and Prosthetic+Bionics locations. The Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation program will continue to require masks for patients, visitors and staff. 

Trinity Health Michigan does have a list of what health organizations are doing. To see that list, click here.

Studies show people who get Omicron less likely to have Long COVID

3-bottom, Community Health, Health, ,

By Maggie Carey
WKTV Contributor

The Omicron variant has a different, milder, biological makeup. It tends to cause mild disease and when an acute illness happens, Omicron is much less likely to land patients in the hospital. (Pexels.com)

If you’re familiar with the term COVID, you may have also heard of “Long COVID.”

Long COVID is another way of referring to Post-COVID Conditions. The CDC states that “Post-COVID Conditions are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems that people experience after being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19”. Symptoms can include brain fog, headaches, cough, and joint pain. Although most cases are all different and there is no true set of symptoms. The CDC also states that there is no test to determine if the symptoms presented are caused by COVID-19.

Recent findings show that people who catch Omicron are less likely to get Long Covid. Since the spread of Omicron, which began in late 2021, COVID-19 deaths became a rarity and the Omicron variant carries a lower threat of lingering complications.

John Willan, a hematologist who works at the University of Oxford and Wexham Park Hospital, reported that Long COVID symptoms after three months of infection were down to 14% with Omicron. To put in perspective, the original coronavirus strain was a 46% risk of Long COVID complications and symptoms.

This decreasing trend was found across both healthy people and vulnerable populations. A study from the Lancet found the risk of Long COVID in cancer patients fell from 17% in 2021 to a mere 6% once cases shifted to the Omicron variant.  

So what is different with Omicron? 

The Omicron variant has a different, milder, biological makeup. It tends to cause mild disease and when an acute illness happens, Omicron is much less likely to land patients in the hospital. Just being in the hospital with COVID-19 is a major risk factor for Long COVID.

 

Omicron also does not seem to be spreading to vital organs like previous strains were. Without the spread, someone who is infected may not produce acute illness symptoms and is now less likely to end up with Long COVID as well. There is also evidence from Yale Medicine to support that vaccination provides a protective barrier against Long Covid.

To learn more about the Omicron virus and stay up to date with COVID-related news visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html .  

While public health emergency ends, COVID remains health risk

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Kent County,

By Maggie Carey
WKTV Contributor

As of February 2023, the Biden Administration, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have plans to end the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 by May of 2023.

 

This will impact Kent County and its residents and the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) is continuing to learn more about the extent of these new measures but this is what is known so far: 

How is COVID viewed now? 

Even though the Public Health Emergency is being lifted, that does not mean that COVID-19 is no longer a health risk to you or your family. But, COVID-19 is not dramatically impacting the lives of millions each day as were reported in the months of 2020 and 2021. This is due to most of the population having some form of protection from the virus either from vaccinations or prior infections giving immunity.

Home COVID tests may no longer be covered under insurance. (WKTV/Maggie Carey)

Preventative measures such as at-home COVID-19 tests may no longer be covered by insurance. Under the Public Health Emergency, insurance companies were required to reimburse up to eight at-home tests per month for residents. Once the Public Health Emergency ends, insurers will be able to choose if they will reimburse those costs or not. For those on Medicaid, at-home tests and PCR tests ordered by a physician, will remain free until September 2024.

It is not recommended that individuals stock up on multiple tests due to the short shelf life of at-home tests. Rather the recommendation is to pick up one or two tests before the month of May. 

What happens if you test positive for COVID?

As of March 9, 2023, if you have a confirmed positive test for COVID-19 is it recommended that you isolate yourself and stay home to rest, stay away from others, and recover. According to the CDC, Isolation should last for at least five days and then another test is recommended and if it comes back negative you may end isolation and if positive continue to isolate until a negative test is produced.

 

It is recommended that if you test positive for COVID, you should quranrinte for five days. (Pxhere.com)

Access to vaccines and treatments like Paxlovid will still be available but may no longer be free. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters will still be available at no out-of-pocket cost for those with private insurance as long as they receive those entities from an in-network provider. Medicare and Medicaid will continue to provide vaccine coverage.

Paxlovid, an oral treatment by Pfizer for COVID-19, will continue to be available and covered for people who have private health insurance. Paxlovid will be available for those on Medicaid until supplies last and there may be a change in out-of-pocket costs.

Telemedicine care

If an individual utilizes telemedicine (virtual visits with a doctor or healthcare provider) and receives written prescriptions via telemedicine appointments, those services will no longer be available after May 11, 2023. Individuals will be required to make in-person appointments for prescriptions after May 11, 2023.

For those on Medicare, recipients will still have access to extended telehealth services until the end of 2024.

How the pandemic has impacted health systems in Grand Rapids

A report from Grand Valley State University found that close to 40% of individuals delayed care in the United States during the pandemic. Erkmen Aslim, an assistant professor of economics for the Seidman College of Business and co-author of the report states that “delaying care not only increases morbidity and mortality risk associated with treatable and preventable disease, but it can also contribute to excess deaths directly or indirectly related to the pandemic.”

This report also found an unusual increase in outpatient visits to Grand Rapids hospitals while other regions had a decrease in outpatient visits during the pandemic. Daniel Montanera, another co-author of Health Check and assistant professor of economics at Seidman, theorized that Grand Rapids became a magnet for people from the Detroit area who couldn’t or wouldn’t visit hospitals that were grappling with spikes in COVID-19.

The Public Health Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has created change for our American healthcare systems and even though it is coming to an end, new information and updates related to COVID-19 will be available for residents through the Kent County Health Department for the foreseeable future.

 

Additional information and updates related to COVID-19 will also be readily available through the CDC’s COVID information website.

Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan partners with GRCC for Senior Dental Day

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Senior Living, , ,

By Emily Armstrong
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

Oral health is an integral component of overall wellness. Yet access to dental services can be a serious barrier for older adults to maintain their oral health. Each year the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) partners with Grand Rapids Community College to host Senior Dental Day; an event that helps older adults in Kent County engage their oral health and find a new dental provider.

Last year, the event served 18 individuals, providing dental cleanings, x-rays, and exams conducted by GRCC dental program students. To qualify, seniors must be over 60 years of age and have not been to the dentist within the last 12 months. Held at Cook Academic Hall at GRCC’s downtown campus, the event will take place this year on Monday, March 20.

“We’re so thrilled to again offer the Senior Dental Day initiative. This is an event we look forward to each year and the partnership with Grand Rapids Community College gives us the chance to connect with high-risk seniors and connect them with services to support their health and independence,” shared Brandon Beck, Contract Administrator with the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan.

Locally, AAAWM supports oral health in a variety of ways. In Kent County, the Kent County Senior Millage (KCSM) network provides low-cost dental services to Kent County residents 60 years or older in partnership with Cherry Health and Exalta Health. AAAWM is also a member of the Kent County Oral Health Coalition, a group focused on advocacy and outreach in the West Michigan.

 

If you have any questions about this year’s event, you can reach out to Brandon at BrandonB@aaawm.org.  If you’re an older adult in Kent County seeking dental services, you can contact the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at 616-456-5664 to be connected to resources.

Providing physical comfort in hospice requires attention to cues, team approach

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Community Health, Health, Senior Living

By Emmanuel Hospice

A combination of medical care and complementary therapies can be used to provide physical comfort in hospice. (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)

Sometimes, it’s what the patient shares by simply speaking. But a hospice practitioner can also make inroads by what patients express with a turn of the hand, the way they’re sitting, a look on their face.

“In treating the body, we’re listening in a lot of different ways,” says Joan Blessings, a licensed massage therapist at Emmanuel Hospice based in Grand Rapids. “Sometimes, you can feel patients relax and, in that way, they’re communicating. And ultimately, that helps us help them live their best lives.”

Blessings has been a massage therapist some two decades, nearly half of those years in a hospice setting.

“At first, I really didn’t know if I wanted to do this,” she says, “because our patients pass away. But what I find joy in is giving them comfort. It can be a simple foot or hand massage, but that can create a huge difference for them.

“We believe our patients are more than just their diagnosis. So, we’ll make available all kinds of complementary therapies aimed at treating them in a truly holistic way.”

It’s remarkable, she continues, the way in which the body responds to music, to scents, to time with a pet – and of course, her specialty – massage.

At times, that can mean a light touch to someone experiencing generalized pain. In other cases, it might call for zeroing in on anything from facial muscles to the entire spine. The benefits can manifest themselves in increased mobility, reduced inflammation and more.

 

It takes time and practice to focus on the physical needs of each patient.

“Every patient is different,” she says. “When I go in for the first time, I am seeking to meet their expectations, and working hard to understand what those are.”

While she focuses on massage, she’s also paying attention to how else that patient might benefit from others on the care team. During the massage, they might talk about craving a spiritual connection. Perhaps they want to visit the beach or a flower garden. Another might want to sing or listen to hymns.

Blessings makes detailed notes of those desires into a digital logbook that everyone else attending to that patient can discover and then act on. A variety of complementary programs can be used alongside pharmaceutical approaches to provide physical comfort and support other health needs.

“We are so team-oriented,” Blessings says. “And everything we do is integrated on behalf of the patient, so they get everything they need from everyone with whom I work. It’s a very important part of their care program, and when a situation changes, we’re all aware of it.”

The rewards are many: “I served a woman the other day who said to me, ‘I’m 94-years-old, and I have never had a massage.’ I was able to smile and tell her, ‘Well, after I walk out that door, you won’t be able to say that anymore.’”

For more information, visit EmmanuelHospice.org/holistic-care.

One patient’s story demonstrates the impact of Trinity Health Kidney Center

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Kent County, Our Cities, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Nathan Hannum (standing) with his donor, Kyle Hess. (Courtesy, Trinity Health)

Some years ago, Nathan Hannum received the diagnosis that he had IgA nephropathy, also sometimes called Berger’s disease, that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) builds up in the kidney resulting in inflammation that can hamper the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from your blood.

It was a slow decline of kidney function, taking about 18 years for Hannum to drop to about 80% function and then in 2020, the decline started to take a steep dive, with him losing about 20% of functionality.

“So it was a pretty steep deal, but at the end of the year I was in a better position than a lot of other patients in that even though my function had gone down so far, I didn’t have to have dialysis,” he said.

When Hannum and his family moved to Grand Rapids about 15 years ago, he discovered there was only one renal kidney doctor’s office in Grand Rapids at that time, which was associated with the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center.

“I had been told I would probably want to get it done there just because it’s close to home,” Hannum said. “There are other options. We could have gone to the University of Michigan or Detroit or Chicago, but the ability to have the facility close to home was a big part of the decision.”

Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center marks its 50th anniversary this year. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)

Marking a golden anniversary

The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center in Grand Rapids marks its 50th anniversary this year. There are six such centers in the state of Michigan with Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center (formerly theMercy Health Saint Mary’s Kidney Transplant Center) being the only adult kidney transplant center on the west side of the state.

Since its opening in 1973, more than 2,800 kidney transplants have occurred, improving the lives not only of the patients but of their loved ones and caregivers.

“Our team takes great pride in reaching this 50-year milestone,” said Jill McNamara, MSN RN, Transplant services liaison for the Kidney Transplant Center. “One of the ways we are celebrating is to reflect on the patient stories that show our team just how many people have been touched by their care.”

Hannum admits he was one of those patients who benefitted from that expert care.

“You know sometimes you go in for procedures and they just start working on it and don’t really tell you what is going on. They might ask you what your name is to make sure they’re working on the right person,” Hannum said. “(The Trinity) nurses were fantastic at explaining ahead of time what was going to happen and why they were poking me for this and why they were asking me about that and the doctors were the same way.”

Hannum’s story

Hannum’s process started a couple of years before his surgery with doctors encouraging him to start compiling a list of potential donors. Having been a pastor for the past 25 years, Hannum, who is currently serving at Jenison Christian Church, has a network of contacts.

Left, Nathan Hannum with his donor, Kyle Hess. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)

In 2022, the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center became the only adult transplant center in Michigan to partner with the National Kidney Register (NKR), the largest paired donation program in the world. The NKR has the largest living donor pool, making the likelihood of finding a match potentially faster than other paired programs.

“I sent a big ask to my friends and family and said if you are still interested, here’s the number to call and I was fortunate that a lot of them did,” Hannum said. “There were at least two matches and I think there were probably more than that for me.”

Once a donor was found, the next step was a series of tests, blood and others, to assure there were no underlying issues. It was through those tests, Hannum learned he had prostate cancer. While appreciative that it was discovered, especially since Hannum had no cancer symptoms, the diagnosis was a setback for Hannum, but only a couple months.

Finally cleared for the transplant surgery, Hannum said the next biggest hurdle was scheduling. The surgery took place in December of 2021.

Utilizing technological innovations

Robotic live donor nephrectomy has created even more opportunities for live kidney donation. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)

For patients like Hannum, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center offer one of the latest technological innovations, robotic live donor nephrectomy. This process has created even more opportunities for live kidney donation. A live kidney donation is when a kidney is removed from one healthy patient and donated to a patient who has renal/kidney failure. Previously, these nephrectomies were performed laparoscopically, using small incisions, with the surgeon using his hands during the procedure.

“With a robotic procedure, we still make incisions into the abdomen, but instead of using two hands, a surgeon has four robotic arms available at one time to also control the instruments and camera,” said Joel Stracke, DO, surgical director of the Kidney Transplant Center. “The nice thing about this approach is that we are able to make the large incision needed to remove the kidney much lower on the patient’s abdomen – under the pant line.”

The robot not only offers remarkable precision during surgery, but studies have shown that following a robotic donor nephrectomy, patients experience less pain and less need for narcotics.

Feeling like your 15 years younger

Every person responds differently to their transplant, Hannum said, adding that in his case, aftercare was mostly routine.

“The moment I woke up from my surgery, I felt better and my wife even told me even before I said anything. She said ‘Your eyes are brighter, and your skin color is different and it’s just amazing,’” he said. “ I can’t describe what it was like to be out of the ‘kidney fog’ just when you wake up.”

While there have been bumps along the way, a year later, Hannum said he feels 100% better, adding that he has felt 15 years younger this past year, “which is pretty fantastic.”

“Our main priority is to provide our patients with individualized, compassionate and expert care,” McNamara said. “Over the last 50 years, our program has become one of the largest and most successful community hospital-based transplant programs in the country. As we look forward to the next 50 years and beyond, we will continue to focus on our patients and their families, offering advanced surgical techniques and innovative donor options that offer more hope to our patients.”

The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center currently has six surgeons and five nephrologists. In 2022, it completed 102 transplant surgeries: 37 living donor recipients and 65 deceased donor recipients. There are approximately 300 patients at the center currently on the waiting list, 155 which were added last year.

To learn more about the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center or how to become a living kidney donor, visit www.TrinityHealthMichigan.org/Transplant

Making oral healthcare accessible to all seniors

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Kent County, Senior Living

By Brandon Beck
Contract Administrator
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

When a person retires, they may lose their dental insurance making it difficult to keep up on oral health care. (Pxhere.com)

Oral Health is an integral component of overall health. Diseases of the mouth are closely linked to other serious health conditions in the body. Yet access to dental services can be a serious barrier for older adults to maintain their oral health. Dental coverage is a benefit often linked to an employer, so coverage can change significantly after retiring. Advocacy at the national, state, and local levels are working to reform oral health and increase access for older adults.

Locally, the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) supports oral health in a variety of ways. In Kent county, the Kent County Senior Millage (KCSM) network provides low-cost dental services to Kent County residents 60 years or older in partnership with Cherry Health and Exalta Health. AAAWM is also a member of the Kent County Oral Health Coalition, a group focused on advocacy and outreach in the West Michigan. Each year, AAAWM partners with Grand Rapids Community College to host Senior Dental Day; an event that helps older adults engage their oral health and find a new dental provider. For more information on Senior Dental Day 2023, taking place on March 20, email brandonb@aaawm.org

Within the rest of the AAAWM region, made up of nine counties: Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola the recently created Oral Health Plan applies. At the state level, Michigan has created the 2025 Michigan State Oral Health Plan that consists of three goals to improve the oral health of Michigan residents. Each goal is supported by implementation strategies and activities for healthcare providers and advocates to utilize. The three goals are as follows:

  1. Michiganders understand the value of daily oral health care and preventative dental care and have the tools to care for their mouth every day.
  2. Michigan citizens, dental professionals, and medical providers understand the connection between oral health and overall health.
  3. Michiganders have access to preventative and restorative oral health care because the state has developed the necessary infrastructure to effectively serve everyone.

Nationally, the 2021 report Oral Health in America by The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) calls for a policy that mandates dental coverage in Medicare, stating it would reduce health inequities by assuring older adults have access to preventative and other oral health services. Most individuals lose their employee provided dental insurance after retirement, putting their oral health at risk. Additionally, adults are living longer than ever before, increasing their risk for chronic health conditions. Accessing dental services can be especially challenging for older adults who are disabled, homebound, or cognitively impaired as services cannot be provided in the home. 

There is much work to be done in oral healthcare reform, and there are numerous ways you can show your support and advocate for these important issues. For more information about local efforts, visit the Kent County Oral Health Coalition’s website or follow them on Facebook. For more information about oral health advocacy in our region, contact AAAWM Advocacy Coordinator Sherri Harris at sherrih@aaawm.org

Fentanyl testing strips legal and widely used in Michigan

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health

By Judy Putnam
Capital News Service

 

Fentanyl testing strips are used “off label” to detect dangerous fentanyl in street drugs. (Courtesy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

LANSING – New dollars distributed to groups fighting substance abuse can be used to purchase strips that test whether drug dealers cut heroin or other street drugs with often-deadly fentanyl.

The simple paper strips are illegal in some 20 states.

But fentanyl test strips, along with sterile needles and opioid overdose reversal medication called naloxone, are among a wide range of “harm reduction” tactics the Department of Health and Human Services supports. The department recently announced it was distributing the first funds from national lawsuits settled in 2021 against prescription opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and three distributors.

 

“We are actually saving lives with these supplies,” said Lauren Hodson, a harm reduction analyst for the department who, until recently, worked in prevention services with the Detroit Recovery Project. “We get that direct feedback from people using the substances.”

Often mixed with other street drugs

Fentanyl is a cheap, synthetic opioid often found in street drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and fake prescription pills. It’s also manufactured legally as a painkiller.

 

Its potency has driven a dramatic rise in overdose deaths across the nation and in Michigan.

According to Health and Human Services, the state had 3,096 overdose deaths in 2021, up from 2,738 in 2020.

 

Deaths have grown tenfold since 2000, and each year outpace deaths from car crashes, the department notes.

Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more than morphine, according to the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reports it as a major contributor to both fatal and nonfatal overdoses.

Reversing course on testing strips

Fentanyl testing strips initially were used to test urine for illicit drugs. They cost about $1 per strip.

 

For several years, they’ve been used “off label” to test street drugs, using a tiny amount of the drug mixed with water before dipping in the strip.

A June 2022 report from Legislative Analysis Public Policy Association, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit that drafts model state laws on substance use, found that using fentanyl strips is legal in 25 states, including Michigan, but illegal under laws in other states prohibiting drug paraphernalia.

Since that 2022 report was released, more states – Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and Pennsylvania, according to news reports – legalized the strips and still more are debating legalization.

Some opponents argue that the testing strips promote drug use, but many states are reversing course as fentanyl-related overdoses rise.

Michigan never outlawed the testing strips though it has a law dating back to 1978 that criminalizes drug paraphernalia. The law applies only to those selling drugs, according to the association’s study.

Settlement used for ‘syringe service programs’

The opioid settlement will total nearly $800 million to the state and local governments over 18 years as part of a $26 billion national settlement. As part of the first $39 million received by the state, Health and Human Services said it’s distributing $3.9 million to 34 nonprofits and health departments operating “syringe service programs” offering clean needles and other supplies to those using street drugs.

Those groups have grown from five in 2018 to 34 today, according to Lynn Sutfin, a department public information officer. Many have distributed fentanyl testing strips using private donations because they weren’t allowed to buy syringes, testing strips and other supplies with federal drug prevention dollars until the Biden administration approved it in 2021.

Sutfin said the state’s approach to addiction is supportive and promotes “change at your own pace.”

“Get some of these individuals in the door, and maybe they are ready at some point to take that next step,” she said.

The movement in Grand Rapids

Steve Alsum, the executive director of the Red Project in Grand Rapids, said his syringe services group serves six counties: Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Lake and Allegan. It offers naloxone in three more counties: Mason, Oceana and Montcalm.

From October to December 2022, the group served 3,300 individuals and distributed 4,800 fentanyl testing strips.

“First and foremost, fentanyl testing strips are a tool that enables people to have a greater degree of knowledge of what they’re putting in their body. People can then use that to make decisions to reduce the risk,” he said.

 

He supports the use of fentanyl testing strips but said they aren’t perfect.

For example, they can’t identify all forms of fentanyl. Because fentanyl has grown so pervasive in heroin, most heroin samples test positive, he said.

 

The strips have been more useful in recent months to identify fentanyl contamination in cocaine and methamphetamine, he said.

What is happening up north

Kelly Rumpf, a health educator at the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department in the Upper Peninsula, said fentanyl strips, along with sterile needles, naloxone, sharps containers and alcohol wipes, are at the health department office in Kingsford.

The service, which helps 150 to 200 people a year, depends on word of mouth because local officials have shied away from promoting it, fearing public backlash, Rumpf said.

“People look at it like we’re enabling,” she said.

But it’s needed because the area has a high hepatitis C rate that can be spread by sharing needles, she said.

“It’s building momentum,” Rumpf said of the syringe services program.

What is happening at the state’s capital city

Julia Miller, the executive director of Punks with Lunch Lansing, said she views testing strips as one way to remind substance users to be careful and think about recovery. Her group feeds people who lack housing, provides warm clothing and staffs an office at a former church called the Fledge where syringe services are offered.

Fentanyl testing strips are a routine part of the outreach to about 35 people a week.

“It’s making more people aware of what they are using,” she said.

 

Miller added that getting a test that is positive for fentanyl doesn’t mean users throw those drugs out.

“Most of them tell me they make sure they use a little less of it or make sure they have someone with them,” who could administer overdose aid, she said.

Motor City joins the fight

Community Health Awareness Group in Detroit enrolls about 2,500 people in its syringe service program, said Barbara Locke, its director of prevention programs.

Fentanyl testing has been used for a few years, she said, and her group has worked on educating drug users on how to use the tests.

“Knowledge is power,” Locke said. “Fentanyl is so dangerous. We don’t want them to overdose. They don’t want to overdose. Nobody wants that.”

Turkey farms spared so far from avian flu

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Environment, Hard News, Health, Local Business, Local Food, , ,

By Dan Netter
WKTV Contributor

The avian flu has not harmed Michigan’s commercial turkey farms to date. (Photo by Mikkel Bergmann)

LANSING – While avian flu has disrupted poultry flocks in Michigan and spurred higher egg and chicken prices, turkeys in Michigan – wild and farmed alike – have been spared from the virulent disease, industry leaders and government officials say.

Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinary specialist for the Department of Natural Resources, said the agency conducted surveillance for avian flu last spring and fall, finding the virus primarily in swan, geese, ducks, vultures and eagles and, on a lesser scale, hawks and falcons.

Moriarty said no cases of avian flu among wild turkeys were found.

Turkeys have less risk factors

Turkeys are at less risk of infection than many other bird species because of a handful of factors, Moriarty said.

Wild turkeys are not scavengers, so they don’t get sick from eating infected animals. They also don’t travel together in colonies, meaning mass transmission of avian flu is unlikely, she said.

Avian flu, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has been found in domestic backyard flocks of poultry in 15 counties in the state.

No cases have been reported so far in 2023, according to the department’s communications director, Jennifer Holton.

Nancy Barr, the executive director of the Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, said avian flu has been spotted in one commercial flock of turkeys since the start of 2022, but turkey farmers have prevented its spread to other flocks since.

Barr said since that initial case in 2022, turkey farmers have implemented biosecurity measures like perimeter buffer areas that control which people and vehicles can enter a farm.

Not crossing the line

“They draw an imaginary line around the outside of the farm and they have certain restrictions for any vehicles or people that come across that line to make sure that they aren’t potentially bringing anything from the outside,” Barr said.

A more important biosecurity measure is the line of separation at a barn door, according to Barr.

That means only farmworkers can enter barns where turkeys are housed, she said. Those workers have had no contact with other poultry and change clothes and sometimes shower before going in.

“That’s probably one of the most primary things they do,” Barr said. “Equipment is cleaned or designated just for that house. So it’s thinking about every single thing that comes into that house to keep those birds healthy.”

Spring migration a concern

Barr said that turkey farmers are nervous about the upcoming northward migration of other birds from the South this spring.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, symptoms of avian flu in birds include sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, nasal discharge, swelling in body parts, loss of energy and appetite, discoloration and sudden death.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2021, Michigan ranked 10th in the nation for numbers of turkeys raised, with 5.1 million annually.

Ottawa and Allegan counties are the only two counties with more farmed turkeys than human residents, according to the USDA. Ottawa County produces 70% of Michigan’s commercially raised turkeys.

Protecting the local turkey industry

Ottawa County Emergency Management Director Louis Hunt, who handles avian flu matters, said the county takes the disease seriously because of the threat posed to turkey producers in the area.

He said when he has visited farms that have turkeys and other poultry, the precautions taken by the producers were “impressive.”

“First of all, you’re met with all the signs that these are biosecure facilities, and I guess that sounds intimidating,” Hunt said about his farm visits. “They have taken great pains to keep separated any potential vectors” of the disease.

On his visits, Hunt had to certify that he had no contact with any poultry in “multiple” days. He also had to be decontaminated and change his clothes.

 

He said owners of backyard flocks in Ottawa County have received information about what to watch out for and were ordered to immediately report any infection.

As for the upcoming migratory season, Moriarty said the DNR is preparing for a resurgence of cases in the spring and flu for wild birds, based on last year’s experience.

“Migration and large-scale movements of different bird species, it’s kind of a perfect scenario to have the virus be mixing and moving across the landscape,” he said.

Barr said Michigan is in the “Mississippi flyway,” a major bird migration route, producers will be watching their flocks diligently to ensure as little infection as possible.Most producers will assume the migrating birds are potentially infected. 

Dan Netter is a journalist who started at Michigan State University in 2019. His interest in journalism includes policy reporting, identity reporting and a little bit of news design. Other places where Dan’s work has appeared include The State News and 101.9 WDET-FM. His favorite song is “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.