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Wellness

First Annual Plymouth County Senior Spectacular Expo on June 20, 2013

The Plymouth Networking Group, an organization of business professionals committed to providing care to seniors and other individuals in the Greater Plymouth area, announces the First Annual Plymouth County Senior Spectacular Expo to be held on June 20, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Plymouth Council on Aging, 44 Nook Road. The Senior Spectacular Steering Committee members include: 2 Sisters Senior Living Advisors; Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department; Old Colony Elder Services; North River Home Care; Age in Place New England; Life Care Center of Plymouth; EasCare Ambulance Service; Visiting Angels; Spaulding Rehabilitation Network; Cahoon Care; and Gentiva Home Health.

Seniors, their families and caregivers are invited to explore, connect and enjoy this free event which will showcase senior resource agencies and dozens of vendors offering services of interest to seniors such as organizing and relocation services, legal and financial resources, senior travel specialists, pet-sitting and other in-home service options. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department will be able to provide Senior ID’s as well as present information on Identity Theft and Scams. Reiki, vision and hearing screenings and other demonstrations will round out this exciting event.

Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in raffles and enjoy refreshments including a complimentary box lunch. For more information please visit: www.plymouthnetworking.com or contact Beth Hadfield at the Plymouth Council on Aging at (508) 830-4230.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapist Offers 5 Tips for Avoiding Winter Injuries

Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer Certified, Director of Rehabilitation

The poet Robert Frost said, “You can’t get too much winter in the winter”. According to Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, Director of Rehabilitation at Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT), if you suffer a strain or injury brought on by too much shoveling, winter activities or from slipping on an icy patch in your driveway – then it is too much winter.

MBSSPT is a state-of-the-art orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice based in Marshfield.

Carman offers five tips for avoiding winter injuries:

Wear the proper gear. Snow, slush and ice are slip hazards that should be taken seriously. MBSSPT has worked with a number of patients who have injured their wrists, ankles, shoulders, knees and backs from falls in bad weather. One of the best ways to prevent falls is by wearing the proper winter gear, such as sturdy boots with rubber soles. If you participate in winter sports, be sure to wear the appropriate attire and protective gear, especially if you have suffered an injury previously.

Learn the correct technique first. If you’re a “newbie” at any winter sport, from skiing and snowboarding to ice skating, or if you’re switching from one sport to another, understand that posture, balance and weight distribution are different for each sport. Proper technique is imperative to avoid strain or injury that could set you back for weeks or months at a time. Learn before you leap into a new sport. Take lessons through a certified instructor to help ensure you avoid injury.

Choose the right tools. Snow is inevitable in New England and so is shoveling. In a perfect world, we would all be able to employ a snow removal service for even the smallest amount of snow. Selecting the right “tool” for shoveling is key. Choose a shovel that is sturdy and lightweight. Or, opt for a “pusher” shovel with a blade that looks like a snow plow. This type of shovel is very easy on the back because you literally push the snow to the side, as opposed to picking it up. Got ice? Ice melt is one of the best “tools” around for eliminating hazardous ice. Not a fan of ice melt? Sand or kitty litter can provide traction on slippery areas.

Keep your balance. As with winter sports, balance is key when shoveling. To avoid injury while shoveling, bend from the hips and knees to shovel. Tightening your abdominal muscles while you lift the shovel will help support your back. Take care not to twist your back to throw the snow.

Don’t overdo it. Fatigue is the enemy. If you’ve been playing sports or shoveling for an hour or more without a break, you risk overexertion, which leads to pulled muscles. Working tired muscles can lead to serious strain or injury. Don’t skip breaks. If you’re shoveling, you should take a break at least every 15-20 minutes.

According to Carman, “Low back pain, sciatica, herniated discs, muscle strains and shoulder pain are the most common winter related conditions we treat. Following our five key tips will help you avoid strain and injury.”

About MBSSPT

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) is an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice. MBSSPT, a state-of-the-art facility owned and operated by a physical therapist, has earned a reputation for superior clinical care and delivery of services to South Shore community members as well as physicians from Boston to Plymouth.

The practice’s highly trained staff is committed to providing clients with an experience that will ensure their condition is resolved effectively and efficiently, while empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent future problems and maintain optimal health. All of the practice’s physical therapists are trained to rehabilitate a variety of conditions utilizing treatment techniques that include soft tissue massage/mobilization, therapeutic and strengthening exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, gait training, patient education, and lumbar stabilization, to name a few. MBSSPT accepts Medicare, Workers’ Compensation, auto insurance, and most private insurance plans.

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy is located at 506 Plain Street in Marshfield. For more information, visit www.massbayspineandsport.com or call (781) 319-0024.

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Aging Parent Needs Assistance? Right At Home Advises of the Top 10 Signs and Online Assessment Tool

Libet Callahan, RN, BSN, president of the South Shore office of Right at Home
Holiday visit or wellness check? The answer is both. The holidays are often a time for happy reunions with aging parents, aunts and uncles who you haven’t seen in months or perhaps even years. A holiday visit is the perfect time to assess how your loved one is doing because you are able to look for visual clues indicating signs of decline that you would not be able to glean through a telephone call.

Libet Callahan, RN, BSN, president of the South Shore office of Right at Home, providers of non-medical in-home care services to seniors and disabled adults throughout the South Shore, advises family members of the 10 signs to watch for that are a cause for concern:

Weight loss

Not maintaining his/her personal appearance and hygiene

Not remembering when to take medication and not knowing what condition each medication is treating

Not eating nutritious meals or not eating at all

Food in the refrigerator or on the shelves that is past its expiration date or molding

Not maintaining the home by doing chores such as cleaning bathrooms, washing floors or regular vacuuming

Not paying bills – unpaid or unopened piles of bills are a red flag

Not taking proper care of a pet

Avoiding or having difficulty ascending/descending steps

Limiting contact with or lacking an interest in the outside world

According to Ms. Callahan, “Ultimately, a single, isolated sign doesn’t necessarily mean your loved one is in trouble. Sometimes you can just feel a change in a person even if you can’t articulate it. If there are numerous signs and you believe that your loved one may be having difficulty, you need to address it with your loved one and other close family members. Your aging loved one may be in need of a number of services – from companionship to personal care and homemaking – and Right at Home can help.”

Single-service care options such as meals-on-wheels or an adult daycare may be enough. But, oftentimes a multi-service provider such as Right At Home is needed to provide the companion, homemaker and personal care services that enable seniors and those with disabilities to remain in the comfort of their home for as long as possible.

If you have concerns about a family member, take Right At Home’s online Care Assessment by visiting http://www.rightathome.net/southshore/. For questions or more information, contact Right At Home at 781-681-3545.

About Right At Home

Right at Home provides non-medical in-home care services to seniors and disabled adults throughout the South Shore. Right At Home is among the first in the state to earn Accreditation from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. As a private-pay home care agency, Right At Home can provide services in settings other than the home, such as in assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement facilities, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals.

Right at Home provides care services of companionship, homemaking, physical assistance, hygiene and wellness. In addition, Right At Home accommodates clients in special care situations providing home care for Alzheimer’s and other dementia, osteoarthritis, hypertension/stroke, diabetes, heart disease, neuromuscular diseases and disorders, cancer recovery, hospice/palliative care support, mental health, traumatic brain injury and paraplegia/quadriplegia. All Right At Home caregivers are fully insured and bonded, must pass a vigorous background check, complete a training program and pass a competency test before being placed with a client.

The company serves the following areas: Abington, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton (East Side), Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Middleboro, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Randolph, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, Weymouth and Whitman. Right at Home has offices located at 800 Hingham Street, in Rockland, MA and 38 Resnik Road in Plymouth, MA. For more information contact 866-681-3545 or visit the website at http://www.rightathome.net/southshore/.

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Holiday Wellness Check – Right At Home Outlines 10 Signs An Aging Loved One Needs Help

The holidays are often a time for happy reunions with family members and friends. Whether you live far from your loved ones, or your job and other commitments prevent you from visiting more than once or twice a year, you may be surprised to see that your aging loved one is beginning to show signs of decline.

Family gatherings are one of the best times to assess how your loved one is doing and look for signs that may indicate there is cause for concern. Libet Callahan, RN, BSN, president of the South Shore office of Right at Home, providers of non-medical in-home care services to seniors and disabled adults throughout the South Shore, advises family members of the 10 signs to watch for:

Weight loss
Not maintaining his/her personal appearance and hygiene
Not remembering when to take medication and not knowing what condition each medication is treating
Not eating nutritious meals or not eating at all
Food in the refrigerator or on the shelves that is past its expiration date or molding
Not maintaining the home by doing chores such as cleaning bathrooms, washing floors or regular vacuuming
Not paying bills – unpaid or unopened piles of bills are a red flag
Not taking proper care of a pet
Avoiding or having difficulty ascending/descending steps
Limiting contact with or lacking an interest in the outside world

According to Ms. Callahan, “Ultimately, a single, isolated sign doesn’t necessarily mean your loved one is in trouble. Sometimes you can just feel a change in a person even if you can’t articulate it. If there are numerous signs and you believe that your loved one may be having difficulty, you need to address it with your loved one and other close family members. Your aging loved one may be in need of a number of services – from companionship to personal care and homemaking – and Right at Home can help.”

Single-service care options such as meals-on-wheels or an adult daycare may be enough. But, oftentimes a multi-service provider such as Right At Home is needed to provide the companion, homemaker and personal care services that enable seniors and those with disabilities to remain in the comfort of their home for as long as possible.

If you have concerns about a family member, take Right At Home’s online Care Assessment by visiting http://www.rightathome.net/southshore/. For questions or more information, contact Right At Home at 781-681-3545.

About Right At Home
Right at Home provides non-medical in-home care services to seniors and disabled adults throughout the South Shore. Right At Home is among the first in the state to earn Accreditation from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. As a private-pay home care agency, Right At Home can provide services in settings other than the home, such as in assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement facilities, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals.

Right at Home provides care services of companionship, homemaking, physical assistance, hygiene and wellness. In addition, Right At Home accommodates clients in special care situations providing home care for Alzheimer’s and other dementia, osteoarthritis, hypertension/stroke, diabetes, heart disease, neuromuscular diseases and disorders, cancer recovery, hospice/palliative care support, mental health, traumatic brain injury and paraplegia/quadriplegia. All Right At Home caregivers are fully insured and bonded, must pass a vigorous background check, complete a training program and pass a competency test before being placed with a client.

The company serves the following areas: Abington, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton (East Side), Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Middleboro, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Randolph, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, Weymouth and Whitman. Right at Home has offices located at 800 Hingham Street, in Rockland, MA and 38 Resnik Road in Plymouth, MA. For more information contact 866-681-3545 or visit the website at http://www.rightathome.net/southshore/.

Libet Callahan, RN, BSN

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Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehabilitation to hold Spring Wellness Workshop on April 13th

Dr. Carol DeFranca, a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist and the Nutrition team at Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehabilitation in Norwell will hold a FREE Spring Wellness workshop on Monday, April 13th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the South Shore Natural Science Center on Jacobs Lane (Route 123) in Norwell.

Attendees will learn about the important role of detoxifying the body to maintain good health. Topics to be covered include:

· The differences between a detox, cleanse and fast

· Which foods are best to eat during a detox

· Which nutrients fuel the detoxification process

· The liver and its role in health

“Nutrition plays an important role in illness and prevention. Some health problems such as chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and allergies are linked to what is known as ‘toxic overload’ from continuous exposure to environmental toxins,” Dr. DeFranca explained. “Our Spring Wellness workshop will discuss detoxification as an important process that cleanses the body of these foreign chemicals and toxins.”

Complimentary nutritious shakes and bars will also be served.

Space is limited. Call (781) 982-5566 to register. For more information, contact the Chiropractic Spine and Sports nutrition team at (781) 982-5566 or visit their website at www.norwellspineandsports.com.

Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehabilitation are providers of orthopedic chiropractic care; functional medicine; nutritional counseling; spine and sports rehabilitation and muscular therapy.

Office hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for appointments with Dr. Scott Chapman, and Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for appointments with Dr. DeFranca. The practice is located at 144 Washington Street, Route 53 in Norwell, MA.

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Boosting Immunity – Norwell Spine and Sports Rehabilitation to hold Wellness Workshop

Can certain foods boost or weaken natural defenses? What can I do during the holiday season to avoid getting sick?

Dr. Carol DeFranca and Dr. Scott Chapman, husband and wife chiropractic team of Norwell Spine and Sports Rehabilitation, are hosting a wellness workshop entitled “Boosting Immunity: Saying No to the Cold and Flu Season” on Monday, November 17th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The office’s team of Certified Lifestyle Educators, which includes Kathy Young and Sheri Hoitt, will hold a lively discussion and provide cutting edge health information, healthy recipes and tasty refreshments.

RSVP to Norwell Spine and Sports Rehab at 781-982-5566.

Dr. DeFranca noted, “Good food choices can help you improve your overall health as well as reduce your health risks. We’ll discuss how to strengthen immunity, eat for good health and take nutritional supplements wisely.”

Norwell Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehab office hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., for appointments with Dr. Chapman, and Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for appointments with Dr. DeFranca.

For more information, please call Dr. DeFranca or Dr. Chapman at the Norwell practice at (781) 982-5566 or visit their website at www.NorwellSpineandSports.com. Norwell Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehabilitation is located at 144 Washington Street, Route 53 in Norwell, MA.

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