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Bear Lake Memorial Hospital kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with their annual Brake for Breakfast event on Wednesday, October 4^th. Car after car proceeded through the nursing home driveway to receive their goodies. Brake for Breakfast is a regional event co-sponsored with The Hospital Cooperative in Pocatello.  With the help of hospital auxiliary volunteers, 1200 bags were given out containing information about mammograms and breast cancer along with a light breakfast. Some informational items were generously donated by the Susan G. Komen Affiliate of Idaho/Montana. Another success to celebrate includes Bear Lake Valley Health Care Foundation and the Hospital Auxiliary purchasing a new bus for the Nursing Home and Assisted Living residents. An open house for the public will be held October 19th from 5– 6:30 pm to view the new bus and see the recently built employee/patient patio on the south end of the hospital. Donors will be recognized that evening. Bear Lake Memorial wants to remind the people of Bear Lake Valley that prevention is the best protection and to get your mammogram. An appointment can be made by calling 208-847-1630.

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Caregiver Stress Caring for an older person can be rewarding, but also demanding, difficult, and very stressful.  The caregiver may need to be available around the clock to fix meals, provide nursing care, take care of laundry and cleaning, drive to doctor’s appointments, and pay bills.  Oftentimes, caregivers must give up their own employment to take care of these responsibilities or squeeze them in between employment and other family obligations. It can be difficult to keep a positive outlook when there’s little hope of the older person’s physical and mental condition improving.  Over time, the demands and stress of caregiving can take their toll.  Anger, resentment, and spiraling emotions can be the result of caregiver stress. If you are a caregiver, make sure you have time to rest and take care of your needs.  You can ask a family member or friend to help out for a weekend, or even for a few hours, so that you can take some time for yourself.  Some community service organizations provide caregivers a break, called respite care.  In other communities, such as our own, the assisted living center will do daycare for the elderly. Steps can be taken to help relieve caregiver stress such as: getting outdoors, getting enough sleep, taking time or yourself, reading, meditating, and asking for help. Resources for caregivers: www.alz.org      (Alzheimer’s Association) www.alzheimers.gov  (the government site for caregivers) www.caregiveraction.org www.nia.nih.gov www.wellspouse.org  (provides support for spousal caregivers) Visit your local SHIP (SHIBA in Idaho) counselor for one-on-one insurance counseling and Medicare information:  Kim Hulme 208.847.0949    

When a major disaster occurs, a person’s life can change in an instant.  Here are some precautions to take to prepare your family, including elderly loved ones, for a disaster. Learn About Potential Threats Learn what disasters or emergencies may occur in your area.  These can include those that affect only your family, to those affecting the entire community. Plan Escape Routes Identify two ways to escape from every room.  Practice your escape plan at least twice a year. Establish a Communication Plan Make a plan for how you will contact family members if they are not present. Make copies of important documents Items to consider are: passport, drivers license, social security and insurance cards, wills, deeds, financial statements, etc.  Als, have emergency contact cards for you and your family. Plan for Pets Don’t forget to include food and water for animals Make an Emergency Kit    Basic items to consider: 3 day supply of non-perishable food and water Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries Flashlight and extra batteries First-Aid Kit Sanitation and hygiene items Manual can opener Matches in a waterproof container Extra clothing and blankets Photocopies of credit and identification cards Cash and coins Whistle Extra set of house and car keys Medication, contact lens solutions, etc.   Consider your own special needs. Maintain your kit and store in a cool dry place. Update as needed. For more information about disaster preparedness visit: www.fema.gov www.ready.gov            

Speech therapists, or Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs), are highly trained professionals with Masters or Doctorate Degrees. They specialize in helping both children and adults with communication disorders. Many people are familiar with speech therapy for children. Some children may go to an SLP because they have difficulty producing some sounds correctly (for example, saying “wabbit” for “rabbit”, “appo” for “apple”, or “jips” for “chips”), or if they stutter. But did you know that SLPs also work with adults? So, how exactly can a speech therapist help adults? Often when adults suffer a stroke or a traumatic brain injury, they need help reorganizing their thoughts, orientation, and memory. Sometimes they need help retraining their swallowing function, in order to keep them safe and prevent food and liquid from going down into their lungs. Perhaps someone’s Grandma has dementia, with difficulty remembering people, events, and things most dear to them. These are some examples of when a speech therapist, or SLP, can help an adult. SLPs evaluate and provide therapy for communication disorders for adults, including speech, language, swallowing, cognitive communication, social communication, pragmatics, auditory processing, fluency (stuttering), voice disorders, and training for use of alternative/augmentative communication (AAC) devices. Let’s talk about each of these areas more.

• Speech is the way we produce our sounds, or clarity.
• Language includes expressive language (how we express our ideas and thoughts) and receptive language (understanding others).
• Cognitive communication includes memory, orientation, problem solving, organization, attention.
• Social communication involves conversational dynamics, such as taking turns in conversation or altering our language to suit different situations.
• Dysphagia (swallowing) includes determining risk for aspiration, swallow integrity, recommendations for safest and least restrictive food/liquid consistencies, safe swallowing techniques, compensatory strategies, exercises to strengthen oral pharyngeal musculature.
• Fluency includes stuttering, and how it affects a person’s social communication.
• Voice involves pitch, volume, quality, modifying accent, breathing exercises, resonance, excessive throat clearing.
• AAC devices are alternative methods for communication when a person is nonverbal (such as using an iPad to communicate).

So, what are some things we should watch out for? When should an adult go to see an SLP? Watch your loved ones for difficulty swallowing, coughing, choking, clearing throat while eating or drinking, drooling, or having a “gurgly” voice after eating. Also watch for difficulties with memory, attention, organization, problem-solving, or finding the right word to say. An SLP could help your loved one with these difficulties.

DO’S Do protect your Medicare number (on your Medicare card) & your Social Security Number (on your Social Security card). Treat your Medicare card like it's a credit card. Do remember that nothing is ever "free." Don't accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care. Do ask questions. You have a right to know everything about your medical care including the costs billed to Medicare. Do educate yourself about Medicare. Know your rights & know what a provider can & can't bill to Medicare. Do use a calendar to record all of your doctor's appointments & what tests or Xrays you get. Then check your Medicare statements carefully to make sure you got each service listed & that all the details are correct. If you spend time in a hospital, make sure the admission date, discharge date, & diagnosis on your bill are correct. Do be wary of providers who tell you that the item or service isn't usually covered, but they "know how to bill Medicare" so Medicare will pay. Do make sure you understand how a plan works before you join. Do always check your pills before you leave the pharmacy to be sure you got the correct medication, including whether it's a brand or generic & the full amount. If you don’t get your full prescription, report the problem to the pharmacist. Do report suspected instances of fraud. DON’TS  Don't allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services. Don't contact your doctor to request a service that you don't need. Don't let anyone persuade you to see a doctor for care or services you don't need. Don't accept medical supplies from a door-to-door salesman. If someone comes to your door claiming to be from Medicare or Medicaid, remember that Medicare & Medicaid don't send representatives to your home to sell products or services. Don't be influenced by certain media advertising about your health. Many television & radio ads don't have your best interest at heart. Don't give your Medicare card, Medicare number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or other authorized Medicare provider. Beginning in 2018, all Medicare recipients will receive a new identification number.  This is to help prevent fraud & abuse of Medicare.  Ironically, fraud perpetrators are already on the bandwagon & have begun making phone calls.  Their method of operation is to call a Medicare recipient & tell them of the identification number change, assuring the enrollee that they (the perpetrator) can make the transition go so smoothly if the recipient will give them their Medicare information over the phone.  NEVER GIVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE UNLESS YOU HAVE INITIATED THE PHONE CALL & KNOW FOR SURE WHO YOU ARE CALLING!   This new Medicare scam has hit even southern Idaho, so be on the alert!  

The fifth annual Women’s Health Conference, sponsored by Bear Lake Memorial Hospital, was held on May 6^th at the Oregon Trail Center in Montpelier. The following classes were offered:  Mammography Technology by Dr. Myka Veigel, Types of Living by Dr. Clay Campbell, Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding by Dr. Khristina Meissner, What’s Eating You by Anya Anthony PA, Dr. Trevor Jacobson presented Under Pressure/Hypertension. Our lunch-time speaker, Dr. Lance Hansen gave a presentation about Dr. Google. Other lectures included Occupational Therapy by John Beenfield. Mandy Tingey spoke about Speech Therapy and BLMH counselor Bobbi Kelsey gave a presentation about the adolescence brain.   The Keynote speaker was Merrilee Boyack. Her topic was “Confessions of a Hamster on a Wheel.” Merrilee is a professional lecturer and speaks all over the country, featured for many years at BYU Education Week and Time Out for Women, and a published author. She also enjoys addressing inmates that have been incarcerated. She is the author of several books and talks, including The Parenting Breakthrough, Strangling Your Husband Is Not an Option; In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying. Her most recent, “Will My Child Be Ready: Missionary Prep for Moms” and “When I am a Missionary.” Merrilee and her husband, Steve, reside in Lehi, Utah. She was a delight, and the recording can be found on BLMHospital’s YouTube Channel or by clicking https://goo.gl/uQBuCh   Attendees received a canvas tote, a presentation booklet, and other swag.  A continental breakfast and lunch were catered by the trail center. Several drawings were held throughout the day.  Shopping from several vendors was available for early Mother’s Day gift buying. The grand prize drawing was for a $200 Amazon Gift Card.   Members of the committee for the Health Conference would like to encourage those who attended and those unable to come to reach out with future Women’s Health Conference topics and preferred times of the year by emailing Julie.Nelson@blmhospital.com. DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE CONFERENCE BOOKLET        

Bear Lake Valley Health Care Foundation and Modern Woodmen hosted a fundraiser Trivia Night that was held on April 13. A total of $4,709.81 was raised that evening and all proceeds will go toward a new wheelchair accessible bus for Bear Lake Memorial Hospital. The majority of the funds came from team sponsorship from the following individuals and businesses: Agrium, Bear Lake Dental sponsored the Highschool Students, Dr. Trevor Jacobson, Bear Lake Memorial Hospital Nurses, Bear Lake Memorial Hospital Managers, the local Rotary Club, and Rocky Mountain Power. In addition to the entry fees, Rocky Mountain Power donated an additional $750 toward the cause. Modern Woodmen also contributed $1,500. Other money raised was through food sales and by selling mulligans. The top winning teams for the evening were: Dr. Jacobson’s Team with a score of 84, This is the second year the Foundation has helped sponsor Trivia Night and they look forward to planning this event again next year. Thank you for those who attended and support the new transportation bus for residents in Bear Lake Memorial’s assisted living center and nursing home. Winners Photo Back Row: Jody Merritt, Rick Merritt, Amy Jacobson, Dr. Trevor Jacobson, Bailee Argyle, Mallory Humpherys, Casey Humpherys, Alex Moss, Michelle Moss Front row: Jory Hunter – Foundation Director, Julie Nelson - BLMH Marketing Manager, Bobbi Scoville – Modern Woodmen

When it comes to our skin, many of us are more concerned with wrinkles, sun spots (also called liver spots), and other signs of aging than skin cancer. But skin cancer is a serious concern. It is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Research indicates that 40 to 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have skin cancer at least once. Luckily, it's easy to manage concerns about signs of aging and skin cancer at the same time. The best way to prevent signs of  aging is also the best way to prevent skin cancer: Protect yourself from the sun. But what about promises of instant youth in a jar? Experts say that over-the-counter creams and lotions can help ease dry skin — which is more common as you age — but they can't turn back time. Prescription creams, chemical peels, laser treatments, Botox, and other cosmetic procedures are being used to treat sun spots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. But results vary and some treatments remain unproven. These treatments also don't prevent further damage. So for now, to ward off future signs of aging and lower your risk of skin cancer:

• Avoid the sun when its rays are strongest between 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Use a sunscreen that has a high SPF number (15 or higher).

  Sunscreen should also protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Experts recommend using sunscreen daily, year-round — especially on your face. If you're out in the sun for a long time, protect your ears and scalp with a hat. For extra body protection, wear lightweight long-sleeved shirts and pants. Checking your skin regularly is a good idea. Tell your doctor right away about skin changes, such as new growths, sores that don't heal, or changes in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole. Skin changes are not always cancer. But you should have a doctor check out a skin change to be sure. Many types of skin cancer can be cured if found and treated early.  

More than half of all Americans take one or more dietary supplements daily or on occasion. Supplements are available without a prescription and can come in a pill, powder or liquid form.   People take these supplements to make sure they get enough essential nutrients and to improve their health.  But not everyone needs to take supplements.  “It’s possible to get all of the nutrients you need by eating a variety of healthy foods,” says Carol Haggans, a registered dietician. “But supplements can be useful for filling in the gaps in your diet.” Some supplements may have side effects, especially if taken before surgery or with other medicines.  Supplements can also cause problems if you have certain health conditions.  You should discuss the supplements you are taking with your doctor. While manufacturers cannot claim that supplements can cure, treat or prevent disease, there is evidence to suggest that taking certain supplements can enhance health in different ways.  The most popular nutrient supplements are multivitamins, calcium and vitamins B, C, and D.  Calcium support bone health, and vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.  Vitamins C and E are antioxidants---molecules that prevent cell damage and help to maintain health. Vitamin B12 keeps nerve and blood cells healthy.  Vitamin B12 mostly comes from meat, fish, and dairy foods, so vegans may consider taking a supplement to be sure to get enough of it.  Research suggests that fish oil can promote heart health.  The National Institute of Health reports that of the supplements not derived from vitamins and minerals, fish oil probably has the most scientific evidence to support its use. Many supplements have mild effects with little to no risks.  But…..use caution with some supplements.  Vitamin K, for example, will reduce the ability of blood thinners to work. Ginkgo can increase blood thinning, and St. John’s Wart can speed the breakdown of many drugs, such as antidepressants and birth control pills, making them less effective. Just because a supplement is promoted as “natural” doesn’t mean it is safe.  It’s important to know the chemical makeup, how it’s prepared, and how it works in the body, especially if you are dealing with herbs. Scientists still have much to learn, even about common vitamins.  The scientific community once thought that taking Vitamin E would reduce a man’s risk of prostate cancer, but a recent large study of more than 29,000 men found that taking vitamin E actually raised, not reduced, the risk for prostate cancer. It’s always wise to talk to your doctor about the supplements you should or should not be taking.  The National Institute of health has fact sheets on dietary supplements at  http://ods.od.nihgov/factsheets/list-all/