healthy living with centers plan Spring 2016 W elcome to our Spring 2016 newsletter! It s a perfect time to get out and enjoy the warmth now that spring is here, we have a couple of easy yet effective exercises for you to help you enjoy the season. This newsletter is packed with lots of information that can be helpful to you to manage your health this season! There is also a great, easy to do recipe that is healthful and needs no baking! It is also good to take with you on outings, to keep your energy up! With spring also comes allergy season, we have some helpful hints to keep you breathing easier. I hope you enjoy this newsletter and have a healthy and happy Spring! Lea Gould V.P. of Clinical Operations Care Management Focus Meet Patrick! Nurse Assessor Patrick is a Nurse Assessor at Centers Plan for Healthy Living. He has been a Registered Nurse since 2012. Patrick spends his time traveling to members homes. Patrick is always on the lookout to see how his members are feeling and to understand what he can do to make their lives better and healthier. 1 Patrick is very dedicated and cares deeply for all the members that he visits. Patrick enjoys being a Nurse Assessor because, I love meeting new people every day and hearing all about their lives. At the end of the day, Patrick feels most proud when he does what he loves most, helping members get all the care that they need! CENTERS PLAN FOR HEALTHY LIVING WE CARE ABOUT YOUR CARE! Recipe 2 Exercise 2 Asthma in Seniors 3 Survey Spring 2016 3 Spring Checkup 4 Harmful Effect of Smoking 5 Word Search 6 MLTC: 1-855-270-1600 MAPD: 1-877-940-9330 FIDA: 1-800-466-2745 TTY 1-800-421-1220 Hours of operation 7 days a week 8am-8pm
Peanut Butter Granola Balls Ingredients 1/3 cup honey ¼ cup natural peanut butter 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup crisp rice cereal 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats ¼ cup dried fruit Preparation 1. In a small saucepan on medium heat, add honey, peanut butter, and butter. Stir until loosened and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cereal, oats, and dried fruit. 2. Drop mixture by the tablespoon into mini paper cupcake liners. Place on a baking sheet, and refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Be More Active The benefits of exercise throughout life are often publicized. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians almost all people can benefit from additional physical activity. Regular exercise protects from chronic disease, improves mood and lowers chances of injury. Moderate physical activity is good for people of all ages and of all ability levels. Many medical conditions are improved with exercise, including Alzheimer s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis and obesity. When you perform your exercises don t forget your Personal Care Assistance has to be with you. Side Leg Raise Stand behind a table or chair, with feet at shoulder width. Hold onto the table or chair for balance. Lift your right leg to the side about 12 inches (or as far as is comfortable) while keeping your back and both legs straight. Hold for several seconds. Repeat with your left leg and continue until you ve done 10 with each leg. Hip Flexion Stand behind a chair or table and hold on for balance. Bend one knee slowly toward your chest. Hold for 1 second and then lower slowly. Repeat with the other leg and continue until you have done 12 lifts with each leg. Heel-To-Toe Walk while placing the heel of one foot just in front of the toe of the other. Hold onto to a table or counter while trying this. If you feel well-balanced, now try it walking across the room. 2
Asthma In Seniors What Is Asthma? Asthma is a long term disease that inflames and narrows the airways in the lungs. It can cause wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing (usually at night or early morning). Recognizing Asthma Triggers: Common triggers are pollen, smoke, pet dander, dust, mold and airborne chemicals. Triggers can also be changes in weather, exercise, colds, the flu, laughing or crying hard. Asthma Action Plan: Whether your asthma is mild or severe, it s important to have an Asthma Action Plan to help maintain control over asthma symptoms. The way to get a treatment plan designed especially for you is to have a conversation with your doctor and request a written treatment plan. Your action plan should include the following: a. Your prescribed doses of medications (the number of puffs you need) and when to take them. b. Information on what to do in case your symptoms get worse. c. Triggers to avoid. d. Emergency telephone numbers. Medication Adherence: If you have asthma, it is very important to remember to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor. Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) deliver the drug through a small handheld canister. They work like a spray can. You push the inhaler, it sprays out the medicine, and you breathe it in. It may take some effort to inhale these medications. A device called a spacer may help you deliver the inhaled dose. It is a tube-like gadget that can help people use an inhaler more easily. Your doctor or pharmacist can teach you the proper technique to use an inhaler and a spacer. Do not be shy about asking for help in learning how to use these important devices. Please see the illustration of a spacer. 3 Survey Spring 2016 It is important to us and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to understand how we are doing in regard to servicing your healthcare needs. You will be receiving a survey in the mail. The Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) was created by CMS, the federal government agency that runs the Medicare program. The survey was created to monitor and improve the quality of care provided to Medicare members. Members will be randomly sampled this spring so you may receive this survey in the mail. The survey measures the quality of care Medicare members receive by asking questions about your health over a certain period of time. If you receive a survey in the mail, please complete it! The survey takes about 20 minutes. The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. If you cannot complete it by mail you may receive a follow-up telephone call to complete the survey over the phone. The phone survey takes about 15 minutes. Your feedback will help us improve our services to you!
Spring Checkup Controlling Blood Pressure What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force that moving blood puts on your artery walls (the tubes that carry blood throughout your body). There are 2 numbers that are used to measure it. For example, 118 over 72 is written as: 118/72. What are the symptoms of high blood pressure? There are no symptoms or signs of high blood pressure. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. Your doctor can check your blood pressure and tell you what blood pressure numbers are right for you. Talk with your doctor about checking your blood pressure at home. Blood pressure meters are covered at a participating pharmacy with a prescription from your doctor. You can check your blood pressure at many grocery stores and pharmacies. Be sure to follow up with your doctor. See your doctor for regular health checkups. Ask about your blood pressure and what your target blood pressure should be. Eat healthy. Avoid foods high in fat, cholesterol and salt. Ask your doctor about a safe exercise program. Exercise 30 minutes per day most days of the week. Lose weight, as needed. Don t smoke or use illegal drugs. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcohol includes beer, wine and liquor. Always take medicine as your doctor tells you. Fall prevention You can make small changes to help prevent falls. One in 3 older adults will fall each year. Falling can lead to broken bones, trouble getting around, and other health problems especially if you are age 65 or older. Many falls can be prevented. Follow these steps to lower your risk of falling: Get active. Talk with your doctor about using medicines safely. Get your vision checked. Get plenty of sleep. Drink alcohol only in moderation. Always wear shoes with nonslip soles, even inside your home. Don t walk barefoot or wear slippers or socks instead of shoes. Use bright lights throughout your home, especially on the stairs. Have railings put on both sides of all stairs on the inside and outside of your home. Keep stairs and places where you walk clear of clutter. Pick up things you can trip over, like papers, shoes, or books. Remove small rugs or use double-sided tape to keep rugs from slipping. Keep kitchen items you use often in easy-to-reach cabinets. Have grab bars put inside and outside your bathtub or shower and next to your toilet. Use non-slip mats in the bathtub or shower. Stand up slowly after eating, lying down, or sitting. 4
Harmful Effects of Smoking The Centers Plan for Healthy Living would like to inform our members about the consequences of smoking as well as provide information for those seeking help. The effects of smoking are harmful to the health of the smoker as well as their loved ones. Smoking negatively affects almost every part of the human body including: the lungs, brain, heart, stomach, and immune system. The human body s ability to heal and repair itself naturally will completely diminish over time if the smoker continues to smoke regularly. Aside from harming his or her own body, the smoker could unknowingly be harming the population around them. Secondhand smoke can cause life-threatening diseases and defects in adults, children, and pregnant women. The following resources can be used as a tool to aid those who are planning to or already have quit smoking. www.nycsmokefree.org - NYC Smoke-Free 40 Worth Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10013 - Tel: 646-619-6400 www.smokefree.gov - Tel: 1-800-784-8669 www.nysmokefree.com - Tel: 1-866-697-8487 If anyone is in need of any more information or assistance, please feel free to contact The Centers Plan for Healthy Living customer care group and ask to be connected to one of the Social Work Managers. 5
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