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August 2020

Aug 28
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Columbus Dispatch: Diabetes Dayton moving under LifeCare Alliance wing

By LifeCare Alliance in the News

Photo and story published Aug. 27, 2020, by The Columbus Dispatch:

A nonprofit organization that has been helping diabetes patients in southwestern Ohio since the 1960s aims to strengthen and expand services by merging with a larger Columbus charity.

LifeCare Alliance, one of central Ohio’s largest and oldest charities, has merged with Diabetes Dayton in an effort to boost services in a part of the state with high rates of the disease.

The move brings Ohio’s last two diabetes-focused nonprofit organizations under the LifeCare umbrella, officials said. The Central Ohio Diabetes Association joined LifeCare in 2017.

Click here to read the full story.

Aug 27
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Dayton Business Journal: Dayton nonprofit inks merger with Central Ohio healthcare agency

By LifeCare Alliance in the News

Photo and story published Aug. 27, 2020, in the Dayton Business Journal:

Diabetes Dayton, one of just a few independent diabetes associations in Ohio, has completed a merger with LifeCare Alliance — one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations in the state.

The partnership aims to expand services for both new and existing clients, enhance access to resources and strengthen care offerings for both nonprofits.

Click here to read the full story.

Aug 04
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An elderly woman applies a cream to her hands

Knowledge is Best Tool for Managing Chronic Conditions

By Fan Campaign

Chronic conditions, such as arthritis or diabetes, can have multiple causes and symptoms that vary over time. One of the most important steps to manage your condition is to understand as much about it as you can and make choices that help you manage your health.

The Ohio Department of Aging detailed several ways that people living with chronic illnesses can manage their health.

Take your medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read the label on your prescription to make sure you take your medicine correctly. It is important to know how much medicine to take and take the medicine as long as ordered by your doctor. If you are confused about your medicine, call your pharmacy or talk with your doctor.

Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist:

    • Why do I need to take this medicine?
    • When should I take it?
    • What is my dose?
    • What if I forget to take my medicine?
    • Does this medicine have any side effects?
    • Are there any foods I should not eat while I take this medicine? It may help to use a chart to keep track of your medicines.

A pill box or daily alarm can help you remember to take your medicine each day.

Make healthy choices each day. Your diet can make a big difference in managing your chronic condition. Try to add one fruit and one vegetable at each meal. Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients that help you maintain a healthy weight, gain energy, and help prevent additional chronic conditions.

Stay hydrated. Water helps to keep your body working well. It is important to drink plenty of water each day. Drink at least 8 cups of water each day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Try to switch out one of your other beverages, such as pop or juice, for a cup of water this week.

LifeCare Alliance helps people living with chronic illnesses by providing them with medical care and social support. Here are some of the services LifeCare Alliance offers to make life with a chronic condition feel more manageable:

  • Wellness — Patients can schedule one-on-one sessions with registered dietitians to learn important diabetes management skills. These sessions offer individualized coaching and customized education on lowering and managing blood sugar.
  • Help-At-Home — Personal care professionals help seniors battling chronic illnesses maintain a comfortable and independent life in their home by taking care of things like laundry, cooking, and running errands.
  • Project Openhand-Columbus — People living with HIV/AIDS can have nutritionally enriched meals delivered to their homes, as well as one-on-one nutritional counseling.

You can support these services and all of LifeCare Alliance’s work online here.

Photo credit: Pixabay.com

 

Aug 04
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A Loving Touch - Elderly couple embraces

Photo Contest Showcases Moments of Joy, Dignity for Seniors

By Featured News

Beauty is often found in the quietest moments.

The National Council on Aging held a photo contest for its Age + Action Virtual Conference. The contest encouraged photographers from all over the country to submit photos depicting people enjoying their advanced years and awarded prizes to some of the most impactful submissions.

The photos showcased seniors in moments of joy, companionship and quiet dignity.

The winning photo was titled A Loving Touch, and featured a black and white image of an elderly interracial couple sharing a tender moment.

“The judges chose this photo because of its artistry, poignancy, sensitivity, and dignity,” said Ken Bracht, NCOA chief marketing and business development officer.

The second-place photo, titled Grandma Quality Time, showed a toddler and her grandmother sharing a chocolate milkshake. Other honorees included On the Bench, a photo of several older men sharing a laugh in the park, and One Day Like the Next, which depicted a man watching television in a cozy, cluttered living room.

You can see the NCOA’s entire gallery here.

Photo Credit: Allan Mestel

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Click this box to see the National Council on Aging’s full gallery.

Aug 04
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A worker loads fans into a client's car

With Cooling Centers Closed, Fan Campaign Offers Refuge from Heat

By Fan Campaign, Featured News, Uncategorized

The city of Columbus has decided to keep its community centers and public libraries closed amid coronavirus concerns. In a normal summer, these spaces are designated as “cooling centers,” where people without air-conditioned homes can wait out the hottest hours of the day.

People who in the past relied on cooling centers will need to find new ways to stay safe during summer heat waves.

For the past two decades, LifeCare Alliance has been committed to keeping central Ohioans cool with its “Beat the Heat” Fan Campaign, a service which provides unused box fans to people in need of assistance cooling their homes. Drive-through fan distributions are held at 670 Harmon Ave. Call the LifeCare Alliance Fan Hotline (614-437-2870) to learn when the next fan distribution is scheduled.

Fan donations can be made at any Franklin County fire station or at 670 Harmon Ave, Columbus, OH 43223.

Here are 10 tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from extreme heat:

  1. Check on neighbors and loved ones you know don’t have air conditioning, especially those who spend most of their time at home.
  2. Drink plenty of water even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages.
  3. Close blinds on windows facing the sun.
  4. Never leave people or animals in enclosed vehicles.
  5. Spend time on the lowest level of your home. Basements can be a great place to wait out extreme heat.
  6. Avoid large, protein rich meals which can increase metabolic heat, eat smaller meals more often.
  7. Avoid strenuous outdoor exercise during the hottest part of the day.
  8. Keep buckets or basins filled with cool water to soak your feet in, take cold showers and baths and use towels soaked in cold water to keep cool.
  9. Avoid sunburn, as it makes it more difficult for your body to dissipate heat.
  10. Make sure pets have adequate access to water and shade. Before giving your pet exercise on a paved surface, check with your palm to see if the pavement is too hot for their sensitive paws.
Aug 04
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Woman walking dogs

Healthy Habits Can Help Ward Off Alzheimer’s

By Featured News

A recent study funded by the National Institute on Aging identified five healthy habits which together can drastically reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. The study done on 3,000 aging Americans found that people who practice at least four of these five habits are 60 percent less likely to contract Alzheimer’s than people who practice one habit or less.

Researchers looked for these healthy lifestyle factors among subjects of the study:

  • Exercising 150 minutes a week: Among the benefits of staying active are improved disease management, mood, and strength. Exercising is even known to help with balance, helping to prevent falls and fractures.
  • Light-to-moderate alcohol use: Alcoholism can be particularly dangerous for elderly people. In addition to increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s, heavy alcohol use makes older people vulnerable to liver problems, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
  • Being a non-smoker: Alzheimer’s has been linked to vascular issues which can be caused by tobacco use. Smoking can also cause oxidative stress linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s.
  • Eating a high-quality diet: The NIA recommends the MIND diet, a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets. The MIND diet is built on foods which decrease the loss of brain function caused by aging. Staples of the MIND Diet include berries, leafy greens and fish.
  • Doing intellectually engaging activities: Reading books, playing games and making crafts are a few examples of activities that can decrease older people’s risk of Alzheimer’s.

“This population-based study helps paint the picture of how multiple factors are likely playing parts in Alzheimer’s disease risk,” said Dallas Anderson, Ph.D., program director in the Division of Neuroscience at NIA. “It’s not a clear cause-and-effect result, but a strong finding because of the dual data sets and combination of modifiable lifestyle factors that appear to lead to risk reduction.”

The NIA is funding over 230 clinical trials on Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, including 111 non-pharmaceutical trials focused on finding dementia interventions related to sleep, exercise, diet and more. Those interested in participating in an NIA funded study can find more information here.

Photo credit: Pixabay.com