All Posts in "Month: May 2017"

It is incredible just how blessed we are to have been born in the United States.  Indeed, there are problems and conflicts, but we have the ability to work around them. We are free to make our choices, to have a job whereby we can support our family, to have a comfortable home and plenty of food on the table. Not every country in the world can make that claim.

Our Fathom cruise to Cuba was an eye-opener to those freedoms.  We were able to talk with the locals and take a small peak into their lives.

Those in the tourist industry, those who have learned another language and can interact with visitors, seem to be the luckier ones. Today they can work independently and make more than the average $20 per month that an average Cuban is paid. Yes, they may be given something that is called a house but shared with multiple generations. Yes, they have healthcare with many available clinics, etc., but certainly not up to our technology. Yes, they receive ration booklets to help with food, but these are meager and the food is not always available. Looking “outside the box” is new to these people. They are just learning how to prosper on their own with a small business. It will come but it will take years.

We started our cruise out of Miami with the first day at sea.  This gave us time to listen to a few lectures on what to expect while on land.  We heard some of the history, some of the culture, and how to interact with the people.  Of course we also had time to remember that there is sun and warmth in the world instead of constant rain and gray skies.

Our ship was small with only 670 passengers.  It was wonderful to meet people from all over the country who were excited about this experience.  You actually had an opportunity to get to know your fellow passengers and exchange happenings. On this ship you were not distracted by a casino or big theater productions. Movies were about Ernest Hemmingway or the Cuban people. Shipboard activities included learning how to Salsa or speak a bit of Spanish.

Our first port of call was Santiago, the capital of the colony from 1522 to 1589 prior to it moving to Havana.  The watchtowers and cannons used by the Spanish-American war still protect and guard the city.  We visited the Cathedral at El Cobra where the Pope spoke to the people of Cuba and saw the compound in which he stayed, the site of the Battle of San Juan Hill was impressive and the UNESCO sites in the city itself explored the colonial past.

Our second stop of the city of Cienfuegos ocated on the southern coast of Cuba app. 250 km from Havana.  The city sits around a spectacular natural bay and is known as The Pearl of the South.  Our driver had a restored 1954 Mercedes and when he heard we were from Seattle he immediately started talking about the Mariners and then took us to his baseball stadium.

At last we came to Havana where we had two days in which to explore.  Shore excursions took people throughout the city on bus tours and walking tours.  We visited the handicraft market to see the artists and jewelers.  It was not much different than any flea market with some treasures hidden among the normal type of things.

Some groups had an opportunity to visit a senior home where residents are taken care of my the state.  They have dormitory accommodations and communal eating but are well taken care of and seemed comfortable and happy.  Others were able to visit medical clinics and noted the lack of technology but still the attention given to the people.  Many people were able to travel to Hemmingway’s home up on a hill overlooking the city.  Here we saw where the great writer did a lot of his work.  We even saw the PILAR, his boat from Old Man of the Sea.

All in all it was a very exciting and interesting trip.  It is highly recommended for anyone to visit.  I certainly would love to return. but must first at least take off for a Princess 15 day cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii.  You can read about that next time.

For reservations and further information contact Linda Finch at 253 927 8207 or get on the email list at linda.finch@gmanil.com.

A member of a tour group in Cuba is greeted by some locals.
Linda Finch by — May 3, 2017 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures

A lawmaker from Tacoma is among state legislators pushing for the creation of a long-term care benefit for Washington state workers and seniors.

House Bill 1636, known as the Long-Term Care Trust Act (LTC), would establish a public trust, similar to unemployment insurance, which would fund a long-term care benefit open to all who pay into the program. If enacted, a small percentage would be deducted from state workers’ pay to fund the trust. People would pay while they’re working and be eligible to draw on the benefits of the trust after they’ve worked three of the past six years, or 10 years total.

The bill received a public hearing in a legislative committee but wasn’t voted on in the House of Representatives by the March 8 deadline for legislation introduced in the House to pass there.

“Our bill offers a flexible solution that would help many seniors pay for long-term care services and take some of the pressure off of working family caregivers,” said Rep. Laurie Jinkins, who helped introduce LTC. Jinkins is a Democrat from the 27th Legislative District that includes parts of Tacoma.

Jinkins said the legislation would help address a looming fiscal crisis faced by the state as the baby boom generation retires. It’s estimated that the number of people in Washington who are 85 and older – those most likely to need care – will nearly double from 117,000 in 2010 to 216,000 in 2030.

“We need to prepare for this now or family finances and the state budget may be dramatically impacted in the coming years,” said Rep. Norm Johnson, another sponsor of LTC. “This bill has the right balance of personal and familial responsibility, consumer choice, and common sense.”

Considering more than 90 percent of older adults have no long-term care insurance and there is no coverage from Medicare, Johnson said, many seniors spend their retirement resources down to poverty levels before qualifying for care under Medicaid. Without action, he said, Medicaid long-term care could consume more than 10 percent of the state budget by 2030, more than doubling from $1.7 billion in 2015 to $4.1 billion.

“Long-term care is a critically important issue for the Legislature to address,” said Cathy MacCaul, advocacy director for AARP Washington. “Seniors’ life savings and the state budget are suffering because there are no good options that allow people to plan for long-term care costs.”

The proposed effort is supported by senior advocacy organizations, including AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, Washington Health Care Association, and Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

srmedia by — May 3, 2017 in News

Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in the United States and the second-leading cause in men, but it doesn’t need to be. In fact, it’s one of the few cancers that can be prevented by appropriate screening.

“Colonoscopies are life-saving, preventive tests,” says Dr. Kevin Leung, a gastroenterologist with Digestive Health Specialists who performs colonoscopies at MultiCare Covington Medical Center.

A colonoscopy can reduce the risk of death from colorectal cancer by more than 50 percent, yet only one-third of adults are getting screened.

Because colorectal cancer typically doesn’t have any symptoms, a colonoscopy is the only way to find the disease while it’s still treatable.

“Colorectal cancer discovered early in its course is completely curable, and the only way to do that is to get screened,” says Dr. Eric Johnson, a colon and rectal surgeon with MultiCare Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Starting at age 50, men and women should get a colonoscopy every 10 years, unless they’re at high risk for colorectal cancer or have a condition that needs to be monitored.

Is the procedure really as bad as its reputation would suggest? In a nutshell, no. Yet fears and misconceptions persist. Here are the top five:

  1. Colonoscopies aren’t safe — and they might hurt.

One of the most common concerns people have is that something will go wrong during a colonoscopy.
“It’s one of the safest procedures that we do,” says Johnson.

“Colonoscopies aren’t painful, just inconvenient,” says Leung. “With current medications, people are quite comfortable.”

A colonoscopy is a benign procedure performed in an outpatient setting, and only takes about 20–30 minutes. Most patients are mildly sedated and don’t feel any pain.

  1. I’m afraid to get a colonoscopy in case I get diagnosed with cancer.

“A colonoscopy in no way increases your chances of being diagnosed with cancer,” says Leung. “But it can prevent cancer by finding polyps.”

Although one of the aims of colonoscopy is to detect colorectal cancer, the primary purpose is to detect polyps — small growths on the surface of the colon — that could become cancerous. These polyps occur in about 30 percent of the population.

During a colonoscopy, a long, flexible tube is inserted into the anus to examine the entire rectum and colon with a viewing scope. If polyps are detected, they are easily removed while the procedure is taking place to prevent cancer from occurring.

  1. It’s too embarrassing.

Physicians and nurses understand that a colonoscopy is a potentially embarrassing experience for patients and do all they can to make them comfortable — from providing a curtain for undressing, a private room, blankets to stay warm and covered, and the option of selecting a male or female physician.

It can also help to remember that physicians perform thousands of colonoscopies each year and consider the colon the same way they would any other organ.

  1. I won’t be able to drink the prep solution.

The purpose of prep solution is to cleanse the colon so that even the smallest of polyps can be identified and removed during the colonoscopy.

Once upon a time, patients were required to drink a gallon of prep solution the day before the procedure.
Today, most patients drink small-volume preps in split doses – one taken the night before and one the morning of the colonoscopy. This approach is much easier on patients.

  1. I’ll have to take a lot of time off work.

Most people only need to miss one day of work for a colonoscopy.

“The prep time is not usually time you can be productive,” says Leung. But, he points out, you can usually wait until the evening to take the first dose of prep solution, so missing work the day before is not usually necessary.

The day of the colonoscopy is spent at the clinic and recovering from sedation at home, but there are typically no ill effects from the procedure. Most people return to work the next day.

Bottom line: Don’t skip out on screening. According to the American Cancer Society, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 5 percent for men and 4.5 percent for women. “That doesn’t sound like much,” says Leung, “But that’s a 1 in 20 chance.”

 

This article was produced by MultiCare Health System, a not-for-profit healthcare organization with services in Pierce,

If you haven’t already, make a date to undergo a potentially life-saving colonoscopy.

King, Thurston and Kitsap counties.

srmedia by — May 3, 2017 in Health & Fitness

When “Being Mortal” was first published in October, 2014, critics acclaimed it as a “must read” book.  Since then, its popularity has soared partly because of the discussion of how we die, but just as much because of its discussion of how we live.

Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources and the Pierce County Library System will host a series of screenings of the PBS documentary “Being Mortal” in observance of Older Americans Month.  A guided discussion will follow each showing. 

“A major concern for all of us is the meaning of our life” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care.  “Talking about what matters most to patients and families facing difficult treatment decisions before a medical crisis is so very important.  We hope this documentary may be a beginning for many individuals and families.”

While the author of the book is a practicing surgeon and is concerned with how medicine is sometimes misused, most of the book explores how medicine can comfort and enhance the lives of individual patients as well as how the entire health care system can give meaning to the lives of elderly patients in their final days.

Showings are scheduled for:

  • May 2 – 2:00 p.m. at the Tillicum Branch Library, 14916 Washington Ave SW, Lakewood
  • May 6 – 1:00 p.m. at the Summit Branch Library, 5107 112th St E, Tacoma
  • May 10 – 7:00 p.m. at the University Place Branch Library, 3609 Market Pl. W., Suite 100, UP
  • May 13 – 2:00 p.m. at the South Hill Branch Library, 15420 Meridian E., South Hill
  • May 15 – 4:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Branch Library, 6300 Wildaire Rd SW, Lakewood
  • May 18 – 10:00 a.m. at the Key Center Branch Library, 8905 Key Peninsula Hwy N, Lakebay
  • May 22 – 7:00 p.m. at the Gig Harbor Branch Library, 4424 Pt Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor

Following each showing, the audience will have the opportunity to continue a guided discussion lead by professional staff from Franciscan Hospice.  The discussion may range from the role of physicians, medicine and long term care facilities to personal considerations about giving meaning to life in one’s final days.  Audience members will also be invited to raise their own thoughts, experiences and concerns.

Each documentary showing is free and open to the public.  No RSVP is required.  For more information about the presentations, call the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center at (253) 798-4600 or (800) 562-0332.

srmedia by — May 3, 2017 in News