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Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: 1. What is somatic movement? 2. Using movement to help us through grief, shock, stress & trauma 3. What is fright, flight and freeze? 4. How stress and trauma can affect our nervous system 5. How grief and shock can affect our nervous system 6. What is the difference between depression and emotional dysregulation? Guest(s): Donna Brooks, somatic movement therapist, counselor, coach, and educator, & yoga therapist. FMI: Donna Brooks’ links for info- Original Body Wisdom: originalbodywisdom.com Somatic Movement Therapy for trauma, grief, and loss: originalbodywisdom.com/somatic-movement-therapy-for-trauma-grief-and-loss/ 3 Ways Embodiment Helps navigate loss – blog post and video: originalbodywisdom.com/3-ways-embodiment-helps-navigate-loss/ Creating a GoodLife When a child Dies – blog post and video: originalbodywisdom.com/creating-a-good-life-after-a-child-dies/ Beauty in Grief and Loss – blog post and video: originalbodywisdom.com/like-the-cold-and-sparse-beauty-of-winter-there-is-also-a-beauty-in-grief-and-loss/ 8 Somatic Breathing Exercises to do today – blog post and video: originalbodywisdom.com/8-somatic-breathing-exercises-to-do-today/ Youtube Playlist for Grief: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvXmR7ZSV14&list=PL55fMwRPubVxTexQnuE9fCI9pkrdU2E3y YouTube Playlist for Breathing: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55fMwRPubVyjc8xAK3MVpyBLExkhrFKF About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 12/3/25: Using Somatic Movement to Heal from Trauma, Grief, & Loss first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: -We ALL will get older; how we deal with this reality is important for each of us to face in a positive, life-affirming manner -Age-positivity & how to reframe aging -Why & how do positive views of aging produce healthier outcomes? -The difference between a “health span” and a “life span” -Pervasive age-related stereotypes in society, systemic ageism, & internalized, self-perpetuated ageism -What is internalized ageism & how is it detrimental to all of us as we get older? -The stigmatization of using the term “memory loss” & how it can be used indiscriminately & incorrectly -How older people are treated differently than middle-aged & younger people in health care settings, based on perceptions of their age, versus their well-being & vitality. -Economic disparities & bias that may manifest as we age, in being female and/or a person of color, resulting in a lack of resources and poverty -Downsides of individual responsibility as we age vs. benefits of collective responsibility in communities -What can we learn from other countries in relation to addressing the needs & credits of older citizens? -How older people who want/need to work, & have skills & experience, can aid the employment shortage in Maine -The Leadership Exchange on Aging as a participatory learning experience for leaders in all fields; 350 have graduated from the program, in Maine (see link, below). Guest(s): Jess Mauer, Executive Director of the Maine Council on Aging (MCOA). FMI: Maine Council on Aging (MCOA): mainecouncilonaging.org Northern New England Geriatric Education Center programs: www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/nnegec/programs#GITT-PC mainecouncilonaging.org/agepositiveme/ Learn about/Join the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging: www.agefriendly.community Leadership Exchange on Ageism mainecouncilonaging.org/leadership-exchange-on-ageism/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 11/5/25: AGEISM: Disrupting & Challenging Internal & Societal Beliefs & Actions first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: 1. Experiencing the physiological effects of music & song, and how different aspects of melody & rhythm can resonate with heart rates & the nervous system. 2. Music creating connection & community as well as personal empowerment- even if you were told at any early age you were not a singer. 3. Singing as natural for us as humans, vs. how it has become seen as a business and not as a personal expression to use and share. 4. The power of singing in groups, how it feels to sing with others, and what happens to our emotions as we sing together and experience songs & melodies. 5. Songs can remind us we are not alone, and we are connected to others whether with shared experiences, or with new insights, bringing empathy about others’ lives. 6. How it is used as an outlet to express reactions to injustice, and empowers people who are banding together to work for social change. 7. Effects of various kinds of music on growing plants (“Kids! Try this at home!”). Guest(s): Claudia Schmidt, singer-songwriter, folk & jazz musician, & poet, www.claudiaschmidt.com Claudia Schmidt (with Sally Rogers), sallyrogers.com/concert-booking/sally-and-claudia/ FMI: Giving Voice Chorus. www.givingvoicechorus.org Creating joyful choral communities for people living with dementia. The Healing Power of Music. aish.com/the-healing-power-of-music/ Music Care. www.musiccare.org Music care is the intentional use of music by anyone to improve health and well-being. About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 8/6/25: The Power of Music & Song as a Healthy Option first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: -How music can help with emotional stability. -The attributes of music therapy in reducing stress. -The powerful & positive effects of singing in groups. -Music & memory. -Therapeutic use of music in addressing cognitive challenges. -Using music with children with autism. Guest(s): Heather Ellsworth, Board-certified Music Therapist & Neurologic Music Therapist, musician, singer and composer. midcoastmusictherapy.com FMI: Maine Music Therapy website (where people can search their specific Maine county for a music therapist): www.mainemusictherapy.com About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 6/4/25: Music Therapy for Health & Healing first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: -The different ticks appearing in Maine, and the tick diseases being found now. -The vital importance of keeping tick OFF of us! -Poppy-seed size of ticks right now, as nymphs in May, and sesame seed size as adults, and raisin-sized when engorged -Tick-borne pathogens & their afflictions: Anaplasmosis, Babeosis, Lyme (Borellia), Alpha Gal, Erhlichia, Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever, Relapsing Fever (& Powassan Virus, which can cause severe to fatal illness in just 15 minutes after a bite) -The importance of clinical diagnosis, vs. relying solely on the imperfections in analyzing test results, and the significance of a LYME disease rash- which does not present in every tick bite -How to check for ticks in a timely fashion, so an embedded tick has less time to transfer disease from its bite; we do not know how the length of time required for a tick to transmit infection -How to remove a tick safely & what is a risky tick bite (tick broken off, tick on for several hours/days, tick being “annoyed” and spitting bacteria etc. back into the wound from its salivary gland) -Sending ticks for identification as to the type of tick & possible disease carried -What is a PCR test, and what it can show (or not), the issues of interpreting antibody tests, and when to test for Lyme & co-infections -What treatments are commonly used, and the challenges of diagnosing tick-borne illness -How to protect yourself (and your pets) from ticks when being outdoors (high percentage of tick bites recorded, from your own backyard, yardwork, gardening, clearing brush). -Permithrin-treated clothing and effective repellents used on the skin for tick protection -How to make your backyard less habitable for ticks, and migrating birds can carry ticks & spread them onto our property; best to not use bird feeders from April through October Guest(s): Dr. Beatrice Szantyr, Internist and Pediatrician who lectures on Lyme disease and related tick-borne disorders in Maine and nationally, to both professional and community groups. She is an active member of the Maine CDC Vector Borne Disease Work Group, and a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society.  Dr. Szantyr also had served on the 2022 Federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, Access to Care and Education Subcommittee. FMI: EPA info on effective repellents www.epa.gov/insect-repellents? EPA info on repellent-treated clothing www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/repellent-treated-clothing? University of Maine Tick Lab?- Protect Yourself from ticks & tick-borne diseases (Identify a tick for free; $20 to ID diseases the tick may contain) extension.umaine.edu/ticks/ Tick testing Amherst MA. (tests for more diseases): www.tickreport.com Maine Tracking Network- Tickborne Diseases Improving public health with better information: data.mainepublichealth.gov/tracking/home Columbia University Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center www.columbia-lyme.org/ Powered by patients. Home of Lyme Times and My Lyme Data: www.lymedisease.org/ TickEncounter  The University of Rhode Island?Tick-borne Disease prevention Education web.uri.edu/tickencounter/ This article is brief enough for a patient to bring to a doctor’s visit for them to consider: The Management of Ixodes scapularis Bites in the Upper Midwest wmjonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/110/2/78.pdf PARTICULARLY FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS (& FMI for clients): LymeCME- Free, Evidence-based, AAFP-Accredited Courses Physicians Can Trust www.lymecme.info/ ****************************************************** Previous HEALTHY OPTIONS PROGRAMS on ticks & Lyme can also be found at: archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2024/05/healthy-options-5-1-24-lyme-disease-other-tick-borne-illness-update-for-2024/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2023/05/healthy-options-5-3-23-lyme-disease-tick-borne-illness-and-how-to-be-tick-conscious-to-protect-ourselves/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2022/10/healthy-options-10-5-22-the-ticks-are-still-here-what-you-need-to-know/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2022/05/healthy-options-5-4-22-yearly-update-on-ticks-lyme-and-tick-borne-illnesses/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2021/05/healthy-options-5-5-21-ticks-those-blood-sucking-parasites/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2020/06/healthy-options-6-3-20-ticks-and-tick-borne-illnesses/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 5/7/25: Ticks: Lyme, & other Tick-borne Illness first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: Using the Trauma Resiliency Model to stay resilient and centered during this exceeding stressful time The differences between fight, flight, & freeze as reactions to stress “Toxic stress”,“tolerable stress”, & “positive stress”, and what may be helpful- or harmful- to us How can we regulate our nervous system in reaction to stress & trauma? What are some techniques to deal with stress, be resilient, and stay/become centered? What are some specific strategies to use when you are scared or agitated? How being aware of sensation (body awareness), helps in handling and reducing trauma, and how you can help yourself return to a feeling of well-being when you are out of balance & feeling beset by stress Personal, societal, and political stress and the challenge (and imperative) to stay centered & be resilient What is the iChill app and how can it help in times of unease & stress? What are Tracking, Resourcing, Grounding & Gesturing, and how are they used in the iChill app to help with managing stress? Guest(s): Elaine Miller-Karas, MSW, LCSW, trauma therapist, co-founder & former executive director of the Trauma Resource Institute, a non-profit dedicated to promoting resilience and trauma-informed care, worldwide. Elaine Miller-Karas is the author of “Building Resiliency to Trauma, the Trauma and Community Resiliency Models®”, and the host of the podcast, “Resiliency Within”. She has led projects to help communities in the recovering process from mass shootings, and leads the Ukraine Humanitarian Resiliency Program which provides support to teachers & children amidst the country’s conflict. She is currently working in Los Angeles with survivors of the recent wildfires. FMI: Trauma Resiliency Institute www.traumaresourceinstitute.com iChill is a free app from the App store, or try it online, at ichillapp.com Psychology Today- Article by Elaine Miller-Karas Dialogue, Dignity, and Democracy Personal Perspective: We can nurture our humanity in the face of inhumanity Psychology Today 2/25/25 www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/building-resiliency-to-trauma/202502/dialogue-dignity-and-democracy **************************************************************************************** Previous HEALTHY OPTIONS programs on the work of the Trauma Resource Institute: Restoring & enhancing resiliency & balance after shock and trauma archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2023/11/healthy-options-11-1-23-restoring-and-enhancing-resiliency-and-balance-after-shock-and-trauma/ Building Resiliency to Trauma archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2021/03/healthy-options-3-3-21-building-resiliency-to-trauma/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2017/10/healthy-options-10417/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2014/09/healthy-options-932014/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2010/12/healthy-options-12110/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2009/9/healthy-options-90209/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 4/2/25: Building Resiliency to Trauma first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: The serious implications of the loss of funding for medical/health research & the curtailment of health data available for the public. The importance of “doing good science” as a research scientist, & the scientific method as it pertains to medical research. Current & historical perspectives on vaccination vs. herd immunity. Is herd immunity relevant/effective for any/all infestious diseases? The role of bioethics & vaccines, & risk-benefit analysis. The importance of the “Yuck Factor.” Are there songs that can help us understand & appreciate science? Guest(s):  Dr. Miryam Wahrman, biomedical researcher, bioethicist, biochemist, and director of a research laboratory in microbiology at William Patterson University, where she is a professor of biology. Dr. Wahrman discusses the importance of scientific process in medical research & our health, the impacts of curtailing studies on infectious disease and other serious illness, and the current challenges we face as important health information becomes restricted- and misinformation & disinformation is rampant. She is the author of the book, The Hand Book: Surviving in a Germ-Filled World, which explores hand-washing & hygiene, cross infections, and simple ways to stay healthy & reduce/prevent the spread of disease. Previous interviews with Dr. Wahrman: archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2020/11/healthy-options-11-4-20-current-scientific-thinking-about-covid-19-health-strategies/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2020/03/healthy-options-3-4-20-interview-with-dr-miryam-wahrman-author-of-the-hand-book-surviving-in-the-germ-filled-world/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2019/02/healthy-options-2-6-19/ FMI: DNA testing information on YouTube: Inadequate advice can mislead and harm the public onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jgc4.1375 Escherichia coli on the internet: The power of YouTube to educate and influence consumer behavior regarding pathogenic bacteria www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S246804511930001X Glove Changing When Handling Money: Observational and Microbiological Analysis www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26463082 About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 3/5/25: “It’s a Scientific Fact”: The Imperative of Medical Info & Research first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: 1. The origin & principles of the Feldenkrais Method. 2. Exploration of how its practice has been shown to improve movement, posture, balance & coordination. 3. How it may help to reduce pain, and improve range of motion & flexibility- and how Deborah Darr utilized Feldenkrais in her own recovery after a serious injury. 4. Listeners can experience a shortened Feldenkrais session led by Deborah Darr during the last third of the interview. Guest(s):  Deborah Darr, Feldenkrais instructor, physical therapist, & dancer. FMI: Feldenkraisproject.com movementandcreativity.com/tiffanysankary About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 2/5/25: The Feldenkrais Method first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: What is Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and how can it help us be better listeners and engage our feelings of empathy for others?Some practical ways to be able to manage difficult conversations with people who have different viewpoints. How to communicate with others with whom we disagree, even as our own nervous system is under stress or challenge when encountering different view points. How to acknowledge and handle the pressures of social and political challenge in our lives with NVC practice. Guest(s):  Peggy Smith, co-founder of the Maine Non-Violent Communication Network, & certified trainer with the International Center for Non-Violent Communication. A student of Mindfulness since 1991, she was ordained as a teacher by Zen Master & peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, and incorporates Mindfulness practice in the teaching of Non-Violent Communication. FMI: www.opencommunication.org/about.html www.cnvc.org www.empathyforeveryone.org www.clarityservices.us/events Previous interview with Peggy Smith: archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2022/11/healthy-options-11-2-22-non-violent-communication/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 12/4/24: The Principles & Practice of Non-Violent Communication (NVC) first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: – What is a stroke & what are the signs of a stroke? – What to do immediately if you have signs of a stroke. – How to reduce your risk of having a stroke. – Treatment for stroke, and recovery. Guest(s):  Eileen Hawkins, Certified Stroke Registered Nurse & Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse, & Stroke Program Coordinator at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport, Maine. FMI: www.stroke.org www.stroke.org/en/professionals/stroke-resource-library/prevention/five-key-facts-about-stroke About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 10/2/24: Stroke Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Production Assistant: Petra Hall Technical Assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: – Why is a local hospital so important for the community in which it is located? How can hospital consolidation affect local hospitals? – How is the success of a local hospital evaluated? How did Waldo County General Hospital rate, before it became a part of MaineHealth? – Waldo County General Hospital was a successful, profitable, independent hospital, with innovative and award-winning programs. How has that changed since becoming part of MaineHealth? – How can a local hospital be innovative in developing & providing services? How might they share these innovations & successful practices with other healthcare entities, nationally or even internationally? – What is the importance/value of having a hospice unit at your local hospital? What is the importance of having a local Ob-Gyn unit at your community hospital? – What impacts can be caused by closing Ob-Gyn and hospice units? What are the effects of reducing healthcare services which the community has relied upon for many years? – Who loses their jobs locally when hospital services are eliminated or redirected to out-of-town facilities? Beyond the hospital staff who are let go, how is the whole community affected? – Who now decides what services are provided? Is there any local autonomy or are the decisions made by people without connection to the local hospital & community, who view the hospital as a corporate asset rather than a vital community asset? – What can the Belfast City Council do, to protect hospital services that the community needs & relies upon? – What is the impact of privately-owned & operated urgent care facilities in a community with a local hospital? Guest(s):  Mike Towey, former Director of the Speech Language Pathology Department at Waldo County General Hospital; employed at WCGH for 40 years. FMI: Beckers Hospital Review www.beckershospitalreview.com and www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/the-hospital-with-the-biggest-community-health-investment-in-each-state-per-lown-ranking.html Pam’s Story (illustrates expertise that can be developed & sustained at a small hospital, & how innovation at WCGH was essential to her successful recovery): www.mainehealth.org/mainehealth-cancer-care/cancer-conditions-services/head-neck-cancer-care/pams-survivor-story MaineHealth proposal for Waldo County Healthcare Inc. 12/15/08: www1.maine.gov/dhhs/sites/maine.gov.dhhs/files/documents/dlc/Waldo-County-PA.pdf About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 9/4/24: The Importance of Local Hospitals first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: – What does it mean to have purpose in our lives and why is that important for healthy aging? – What steps can all of us take- at any age- to stay healthy? – How does the language we may use to describe getting older, reinforce (or dispel) stereotypes of aging in our society? – How can we dispel the rampant use of negative stereotypes of growing older?  What can we do in our own lives to create a positive image of getting older? – What can we do in our communities to support each other’s needs as we age? What kind of work is needed to empower those supportive resources in our communities? – How does our health care system discriminate against older people? – What are the financial & economic realities of growing older? Do negative stereotypes of aging affect older people in these concerns? – How do systemic attitudes about sex, gender identity, race, & disability affect us as we grow older? Guest(s):  Jess Maurer, Executive Director of the Maine Council on Aging. FMI: Maine Council on Aging mainecouncilonaging.org agefriendly.community www.agefriendly.community Age Positive Maine: mainecouncilonaging.org/agepositiveme/ Previous Healthy Options Programs on related topics: Healthy Options 6/5/24: The Gift of Aging: Growing Older with Purpose, Planning, and Positivity archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2024/06/healthy–options-6-5-24-the-gift-of-aging-growing-older-with-purpose-planning-and-positivity/ Healthy Options 3/6/24: Advocating for the care needs & rights of elders in nursing homes & assisted living facilities archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2024/03/healthy–options-3-6-24-advocating-for-the-care-needs-and-rights-of-elders-in-nursing-homes-assisted-living-facilities/ Healthy Options 12/6/23: Brain Health and Aging Well archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2023/12/healthy–options-12-6-23-brain-health–and-aging-well/ Healthy Options 8/2/17: The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2017/08/healthy–options-8217/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 8/7/24: Conversation with Jess Mauer, Executive Director of The Maine Council on Aging first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: – What is aging? Why is having a positive view of aging good for our health? – How can we stay healthy while aging? – What are “normal” or usual, stages of aging as we get older? – What is brain plasticity? How does the brain create new pathways and why is that important? – How are ageism and age-based stereotypes harmful? – How would we define elder vs. elderly? What is the difference between being an “elder” and being seen as “elderly”? – Is frailty inevitable? – What role does attitude and positivity play in staying well? – How does diet, exercise, creativity and a sense of purpose assist us in aging well?  – What is a “life span” vs. a “health span”? How can the two be combined for better outcomes?  – Why is isolation so detrimental to us? Why is it important to engage with others, and of all ages? Why might helping others be important for our own health? – Why is learning something new every day important, and why is being in nature good for us? – Are there risks to taking multiple medications? – What are the financial and legal aspects of aging well? How do we plan for a successful aging (life) experience? – Regarding grief: what is natural and expected after losing a loved one or experiencing loss in difficult situations? – Why is resiliency vital to our well being, no matter our age? Guest(s):  Marcy Cottrell Houle, MS., wildlife biologist and author of seven books including “The Gift of Caring- Saving our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare”, co-authored with Dr. Elizabeth Eckstrom. FMI: In 2016, Rhonda Feiman interviewed Marcy Cottrell Houle, MS., about “The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare,” about how the current health care delivery model is ill-equipped to provide comprehensive, person-centered care to seniors, and how many treatable conditions and symptoms are dismissed as “just old age.” The discussion highlights specific tools that we can use to help prevent these mistakes and what we need to know to achieve healthy aging. archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2016/10/special-edition-of-healthy–options–10616/ www.thegiftofcaring.net Healthy Options 3/6/24: Advocating for the care needs & rights of elders in nursing homes & assisted living facilities Elder Advocate Jack Halpern, founder and chairman of MyElder. archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2024/03/healthy–options-3-6-24-advocating-for-the-care-needs-and-rights-of-elders-in-nursing-homes-assisted-living-facilities/ Healthy Options 12/6/23: Brain Health and Aging Well: Interview with Susan Wehry, M.D., geriatric psychiatrist and director of AgingME archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2023/12/healthy–options-12-6-23-brain-health–and-aging-well/ www.susanwehrymd.com agingme.org About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 6/5/24: The Gift of Aging: Growing Older with Purpose, Planning, and Positivity first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: – Why is prevention the best medicine when it comes to ticks? Why is it important to keep ticks off of us, to begin with? – What is a tick borne infection?  What is Lyme disease, and other tick-borne illness? – What are the different kinds of ticks, and the diseases they may carry? Do ticks spread bacteria or viruses? – What is a co-infection? – What tick found in Maine, can cause severe to fatal illness in just 15 minutes (!) after a bite? – What is a tick check? What should you do if you find a tick attached to you? What is the safest way to remove a tick?  Where can we send ticks to be identified/tested? – What is a “bullseye rash” and how could it show up differently in men & women? Does everyone get a rash when bitten by a tick? – What type of clothing effectively reduces your chance of getting a tick bite? What is permethrin & how is it used on clothing (NOT your skin)? – What is picaridin & other repellents which ARE applied to our skin? What works/doesn’t work to repel ticks? Guest(s):  Dr. Beatrice Szantyr, Internist and Pediatrician who lectures on Lyme disease and related tick-borne disorders in Maine and nationally, to both professional and community groups. She is an active member of the Maine CDC Vector Borne Disease Work Group, and a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society.  Dr. Szantyr also had served on the 2022 Federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, Access to Care and Education Subcommittee. FMI: EPA info on effective repellents www.epa.gov/insect-repellents www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you University of Maine Tick Lab Protect Yourself from ticks & tick-borne diseases: extension.umaine.edu/ticks/ Tick testing Amherst MA. (tests for more diseases): www.tickreport.com Columbia University Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center www.columbia-lyme.org/ Lyme Disease Association Research, Education, Prevention and Patient Support    lymediseaseassociation.org/ Lyme disease.org Powered by patients. Home of Lyme Times and My Lyme Data: www.lymedisease.org/ Maine Tracking Network: Tickborne Diseases Improving public health with better information data.mainepublichealth.gov/tracking/home TickEncounter  The University of Rhode Island Tick-borne Disease prevention Education web.uri.edu/tickencounter/ This article is brief enough for a patient to bring to a doctor’s visit for them to consider: The Management of Ixodes scapularis Bites in the Upper Midwest wmjonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/110/2/78.pdf PARTICULARLY FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS (& FMI for Clients): LymeCME Free, Evidence-based, AAFP-Accredited Courses that Physicians Can Trust www.lymecme.info/ Invisible International invisible.international/ The Montecalvo Platform for Tick-borne Illness Education is a library of accredited continuing medical education (CME) courses that teach front-line clinicians about diagnosing and treating vector-borne diseases. These courses are free to all users and are accessible to both clinicians and patients online. ****************************************************** Previous HEALTHY OPTIONS PROGRAMS on ticks & Lyme can also be found at: archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2023/05/healthy-options-5-3-23-lyme-disease-tick-borne-illness-and-how-to-be-tick-conscious-to-protect-ourselves/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2022/10/healthy-options-10-5-22-the-ticks-are-still-here-what-you-need-to-know/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2022/05/healthy-options-5-4-22-yearly-update-on-ticks-lyme-and-tick-borne-illnesses/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2021/05/healthy-options-5-5-21-ticks-those-blood-sucking-parasites/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2020/06/healthy-options-6-3-20-ticks-and-tick-borne-illnesses/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 5/1/24: Lyme Disease & other tick borne illness- update for 2024 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: -What does an elder advocate do? -What are the steps that are needed to create a plan in the event that you or a family member require medical care in a health care facility such as rehab/or a nursing home? -What could go wrong when you (or a family member) need advanced care in a facility and are being discharged from a hospital? -Are you required to go to a nursing home that a hospital discharge planner suggests? -What are your legal rights when being faced with a hospital discharge that attempts to place you or a loved one in a substandard care facility? -How can you evaluate the quality of a health care facility? What is a good strategy to help you or a loved one be admitted to a good quality health care nursing home? -What are some legal documents necessary as part of a long term plan for health care? Why should you discuss this plan with a lawyer? -What is the difference between standard Medicare plans and supplemental policies (Medigap), and Medicare Advantage plans? Why is it important to understand these differences and why do standard Medicare supplemental plans offer more flexibility and allow for more treatment options? -What are some creative options to avoid isolation as one ages? -What should you do for yourself or a loved one to create an  “aging in place” environment? Guest(s): Elder Advocate Jack Halpern, founder and chairman of MyElder. myelder.com myelder.com/blog/ www.instagram.com/bigjackhalpern  (and Facebook) Previous Healthy Options programs on related subjects: Healthy Options 12/6/23: Brain Health and Aging Well Susan Wehry, M.D., geriatric psychiatrist and director of AgingME, on healthy aging, being resilient and engaged as we age, how to handle “dementia worry” (anxiety one might have, about fearing a dementia diagnosis), and how to counter the impacts of severe isolation & loneliness which arose acutely throughout the pandemic, and is still being experienced by many people- including those with dementia. archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2023/12/healthy-options-12-6-23-brain-health-and-aging-well/ “The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare,” about how the current health care delivery model is ill-equipped to provide comprehensive, person-centered care to seniors, and how many treatable conditions and symptoms are dismissed as “just old age.” The discussion highlights specific tools that we can use to help prevent these mistakes and what we need to know to achieve healthy aging. archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2017/08/healthy-options-8217/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition. The post Healthy Options 3/6/24: Advocating for the care needs and rights of elders in nursing homes & assisted living facilities first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.