by Van Mitchell, OKNT writer

Dr. Elizabeth Diener, PhD, RN, PNP, CNE, has taught in programs of nursing for the past 30 years in New York, Missouri, and Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing.
She said her 13-year stint at OCU has been the most rewarding of her teaching career.
“I can say without a doubt this is the best teaching job that I have ever had,” she said. “They have always encouraged me to explore my own personal research interests, in addition to fulfilling my teaching duties.”
That reciprocation was returned to Diener by her fellow staff members as she was named the 2022 recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty.
An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died (at the age of 33) from complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).
Barnes’s family was very touched by the remarkable compassion and clinical skill demonstrated by Patrick’s nurses during his illness, so they created DAISY to recognize exceptional nurses everywhere.  Diener said she was humbled by her award recognition.
“It would both serve as a validation of everything that I have done in my past 25 years as faculty,” she said. “It would also be quite humbling because I work with an incredible group of faculty that every day try to do their best to foster faculty and student relationships, and be experts in their field. I feel I am just a representative of all of our faculty.”
Diener currently serves as Professor of Nursing. She is trained as a Caritas Coach in Watson’s Caring Science Institute, holds a certificate as a Soul Collage Facilitator, completed a postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Arizona in Integrative Nursing Curriculum, and is a certified ANFT Nature and Forest Therapy Guide..
She is currently pursuing her teaching certification in MBSR at Brown University, School of Public Health. Her clinical practice areas have included, Pediatric AIDS Care, Neonatal Intensive Care, Pediatric Emergency Care, ECMO, Hospice and Palliative Care, and Nursing Leadership/Administration.
Diener said her parents encouraged her to pursue a career in healthcare. She said watching nurses care for some of her relatives growing up also influenced her to become a nurse.
“I was encouraged by my parents,” she said. “Women went into nursing or education. Either one would have been acceptable to my parents, but they really had a great respect for healthcare. I just have a real respect for the nurses that I saw and how they could comfort people, and assure them that things would turn out okay. It made me want to be a part of that.”
Diener said she learned early on in her clinical practice she had what it took to handle the stress and chaos that a nursing career can sometimes have.
“I got a really good look at what nursing would involve,” she said. “I knew then I had what it took to become a nurse.”
Diener said her approach to teaching has evolved as has the field of nursing with new technology, medicine, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on nursing.
“I think at the beginning I was more concerned with delivering the materials that were required or requested for a particular course, and assessing student performance,” she said. “As it has evolved, it has become not only that, but education has become much more in-depth. We have technology now that wasn’t available back in the day. Our skills have expanded greatly.”
Diener said the pandemic hit the nursing field hard with more nurses leaving the field due to burnout and fatigue.
She said nursing schools like OCU have worked hard to help recruit more nursing students, as well as hospitals and healthcare agencies helping them better transition from student to full-time nurse.
“It’s the quick turnaround from being a student to a functionally-responsible nurse,” she said. “It can be pretty overwhelming at times. Hospitals are trying to address that with internships and transitioning into practice.”
Diener said one message she tells nursing students is to always remember to take care of themselves.
“I think a thing we struggle with is how do we get everything done in the time allotted because there are so many demands,” she said. “I think the challenges will always change as they always do,” she said. “We are fortunate enough to be able to educate larger numbers of nurses. Nurses will get the job done.”
Diener said nursing and teaching is not just her career, it is her passion to help others.
“It is a career I never considered leaving, and one of the reasons is because under the umbrella of being a nurse, there are so many places that you can practice and so many roles that you can fulfill that you can be a nurse and still find your place,” she said.
For more information about Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing visit:
https://www.okcu.edu/nursing/home

Betsy (Goff) Willman Anderson

Betsy (Goff) Willman Anderson celebrated her 100th birthday in Pawnee. In Tulsa, Betsy graduated Class of 1939 from Central High, attended TU, was a member of 1st Baptist & Parkview Baptist Churches, Chi Omega Sorority & volunteered at Gilcrease Museum. She says anything fattening is her favorite food!

Louise (Noels) Green

Louise (Noels) Green of Tulsa was born December 16, 1919. She was a lifelong educator, teacher and counselor in McAlester & stayed very actively involved in the Beebe Chapel CME Church, L’Ouverture High School Alumni & American Legion Post 250. Louise’s life advice: “Education. History. Treat people the way you want to be treated!”

WWII Veteran Paul Romanello

WWII Veteran Paul Romanello of Tulsa having 100th birthday fun with him family and friends. He was a man before his time, never said an unkind word about anyone, loves people and was always the center of attention with his good looks and charming magnetic personality. His words of wisdom are to enjoy your family and life to the fullest! Thank you for your service!

KNOW A CENTENARIAN?
If you know of a Centenarian you would like to honor, please visit
http://centenariansok.com/ and download, complete and submit our form. One of our team members will contact you directly with the next steps.

Jay Snider of Cyril, Oklahoma, has been appointed by Governor J. Kevin Stitt to serve as the 2023-2024 Oklahoma State Poet Laureate. Snider is an award-winning cowboy poet and recording artist who has appeared at national and regional events. He is widely recognized in the Oklahoma cowboy poetry community and is a frequent contributor to programs presented by the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, Oklahoma.
“It is an honor to appoint Jay Snider as the 2023-2024 Oklahoma State Poet Laureate,” said Governor Stitt. “Jay is a creative and talented Oklahoman, who has combined his love for our state and western heritage with his passion for poetry, and I look forward to this cowboy poet carrying on Oklahoma’s tradition and sharing his talent across the state.”
Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples said, “Oklahomans everywhere will connect with Jay’s poetry and stories as someone who fully embodies the spirit of the American West and cowboy way of life. Jay has received numerous recognitions throughout his years of writing, recording, and presenting poetry, but perhaps most compelling is how highly he came recommended by many people across the state. We look forward to working with Jay as we offer funding to schools and organizations interested in bringing the Oklahoma State Poet Laureate to their community.”
“It is an extreme honor to have been considered for the appointment of Oklahoma Poet Laureate,” said Snider. “The great state of Oklahoma has a rich history, and much of our heritage has been passed down through generations as oral history and through the writings of great authors. I have been fascinated by the storytellers of the past, the “Old Timers,” if you will. I felt the need to listen to those stories and hopefully keep them alive. Often, when the ‘Old Timers’ are gone, the stories are gone. Poetry has helped keep the old stories alive. Through the Oklahoma Poet Laureate position, I can continue to promote all types of poetry and storytelling in the great state of Oklahoma.”
Among national and regional events featuring Snider, he has appeared at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Nevada, the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering, and the Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering. Snider was a featured poet at the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering for many years. In 2001, he was chosen by CowboyPoetry.com as their fifth Lariat Laureate—awarded to poets whose work celebrates and preserves stories honoring Western heritage and the work of ranching and rural life. In 2006, Snider earned Cowboy Poetry Recording of the Year from the Academy of Western Artists for his CD, “Of Horses and Men.” In 2008, he was recognized as Cowboy Poet of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. His latest album, “The Old Tried and True,” is a compilation of his favorite poems written by cowboy poets of the past.
Born and raised in a ranching and rodeo family in southwestern Oklahoma, Snider rodeoed as a young man. He currently stays busy raising ranch horses and cattle and taking part in team roping.
The tradition of officials conferring poets laureate to make public appearances and promote a greater appreciation of poetry originated hundreds of years ago. A United States Poet Laureate is appointed by the Librarian of Congress—Tulsa resident Joy Harjo, the first Native American and Oklahoman to hold the position, recently completed an unprecedented third term as U.S. Poet Laureate. Oklahoma’s poets laureate tradition dates back to 1923. The appointment of an Oklahoma State Poet Laureate by the Governor of Oklahoma was codified into state law in 1994. The statute calls for an appointment every two years. Joe Kreger of Tonkawa served as the 2021-2022 poet laureate.
The Oklahoma Arts Council serves on behalf of the Office of the Governor to solicit and facilitate recommendations for the honorary position. The agency supports the work of the Oklahoma State Poet Laureate by promoting their work and making grants available to eligible entities to present readings and programs featuring the laureate. Organizations and schools interested in presenting Snider can learn more at https://arts.ok.gov/.

Hospitals Helping Patients Quit (HHPQ), an Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA) initiative, recognized 11 hospitals and clinic partners at OHA’s recent Connect 22 annual conference that have achieved notable benchmarks in reducing tobacco use in Oklahoma. These visionary hospitals and clinics have implemented a permanent and standard best-practice protocol for identifying, counseling, and referring individuals to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (OTH) for coaching support and nicotine replacement therapy.
OHA recognized these hospital leaders for achieving notable benchmarks in clinical tobacco treatment:

Helpline Referrals 100-499
Great Plains Regional Medical Center, Elk City – 100 referrals

McAlester Regional Health Center – 150 referrals
Cedar Ridge Behavioral Hospital, Oklahoma City– 275 referrals

Helpline Referrals 500-999

AllianceHealth Ponca City – 500 referrals

Stillwater Medical Center – 600 referrals
INTEGRIS Health Edmond – 600 referrals

Helpline Referrals 1000-1999
OU Health, Oklahoma City – 1,000 referrals

Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Lawton – 1,100 referrals

Helpline Referrals 2000 or more

SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Oklahoma City – 2,850 referrals

Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, Ada – 5,000 referrals

INTEGRIS Outpatient Clinics – 8,600 referrals
Through effective, health care provider-driven tobacco treatment services, HHPQ partner hospitals and clinics have referred 55,000 patients to the OTH, resulting in an estimated 39,000 years of life saved and $19.5 million dollars in reduced health care costs as well as personal spending on tobacco products.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) supports OHA’s Hospitals Helping Patients Quit and the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. For more information the HHPQ initiative, go to https://www.okoha.com/hhpq. For information on the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline,
http://okhelpline.com.

Legend Senior Living announced that it will be taking over management of Lionwood Independent Living on December 1, 2022. Merrill Gardens, of Seattle, WA was the prior management company. With headquarters in Wichita, KS, Legend Senior Living owns and operates 43 senior living residences in six states. Lionwood, at 12525 N. Pennsylvania Ave., will be Legend’s ninth community in Oklahoma and its fourth exclusively Independent Living residence.
“The Legend mission to serve seniors makes Lionwood a great addition to our Oklahoma family,” said Matt Buchanan, Legend’s Executive Vice President, in making the announcement. “We will bring to Lionwood the Legend concept of Vibrant Independent Living and Life Enrichment, emphasizing an active, social lifestyle and holistic wellness.”
As with other Legend residences, Lionwood Independent Living will remain a pets-welcome residence and retain a comprehensive list of amenities and services: 24-hour staff, chef-prepared meals, an Emergency Response System, included home maintenance, weekly housekeeping, on-site religious services, commons areas and lounges, transportation, game rooms, a beauty salon, and a library.
“Whether an existing building or new construction, we look for locations that are near hospitals, restaurants, shopping, and other attractions important to an active lifestyle,” said Buchanan. “The Lionwood community is a good fit because of its convenient location, long-standingreputation, great staff, and attractive updates to the property. We look forward to welcoming Lionwood residents and associates to the Legend family.”

*Includes 15 hospitalizations in pediatric beds.
**Focus, Rehabilitation and Tribal Facilities numbers are not assigned to a specific region as their patient populations reside across the state. Information provided through survey of Oklahoma hospitals as reported to HHS as of the time of this report. Response rate affects data. Facilities may update previously reported information as necessary.
Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health. *As of 2022-12-29 at 7:00 a.m.

by Greg Schwem

Hard to believe Christmas 2022 has come and gone. It seems like only yesterday the 2021 holiday was upon us and people were freaking out about attending festive family gatherings because of COVID-19 germs and a toxic political environment.
It’s nice to know some things never change.
What did change, as always, were Christmas wish lists. When I started writing this column, there were seven shopping days left until the holiday; but I was reasonably convinced certain gifts were unobtainable, whether the recipient was a working schlub like myself or obnoxiously rich and famous.
Again, these are just my predictions. So, at the risk of sounding like a weather forecaster or a sports prognosticator, here is a partial list of gifts some of the world’s most well known celebrities — and lesser known individuals — did not receive this blessed holiday season:
Taylor Swift: Tickets to her own concert tour.
Harry and Meghan: Keys to Buckingham Palace. Also, the correct garage code.
Elon Musk: Loyal employees.
Ed Sheeran: A hairbrush.
Pete Davidson: Uh, why is he on this list? That dude got everything he wanted in 2022.
Donald Trump: Relevance.
Donald Trump Jr.: A job. Wait, never mind. He didn’t ask for one.
Will Smith: The neuralyzer from his “Men in Black” movies. You know, it’s that contraption that erases people’s memories. Ideally Smith needed it the night of the Oscars, but rumor has it he’s been searching for one ever since.
Tom Brady: See “Will Smith.”
The cast of Saturday Night Live: The ability to write one funny sketch that does not involve bringing back a former cast member to make a guest appearance.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: A longer pair of skis. In 2023, expect him to remain WAY over the tips of his current pair.
Florida residents: Manners.
Kari Lake: More votes.
Kanye West: A menorah.
The January 6th Committee: Closure.
Dr. Mehmet Oz: A holiday party featuring crudites.
Sam Bankman-Fried: Freedom.
George Stephanopolous: A card from Sam Bankman-Fried thanking him for “that great interview.”
Crypto investors: A positive return.
Dogs: Owners who aren’t nervous about what 2023 will bring.
Cats: Cats don’t need anything.

(Greg Schwem is a corporate stand-up comedian and author of two books: “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad” and the recently released “The Road To Success Goes Through the Salad Bar: A Pile of BS From a Corporate Comedian,” available at Amazon.com. Visit Greg on the web at www.gregschwem.com.
You’ve enjoyed reading, and laughing at, Greg Schwem’s monthly humor columns in Senior Living News. But did you know Greg is also a nationally touring stand-up comedian? And he loves to make audiences laugh about the joys, and frustrations, of growing older. Watch the clip and, if you’d like Greg to perform at your senior center or senior event, contact him through his website at www.gregschwem.com)

By Nick Thomas

With a new 400+ page autobiography recently published, Bill Mumy’s “Danger Will Robinson: The Full Mumy – A Memoir” is crammed with fascinating facts and stories recalling his long acting and musical career (see www.NCPBooks.com).
“‘Lost in Space’ is definitely covered and certainly Will Robinson is the character most people identify with me,” said Mumy from Los Angeles. But despite the book’s title, the author examines much more than just the galaxy-wandering Robinson family.
Riveted to his own family’s black and white television screen of the late 50s, 4-year-old Billy longed to emulate his favorite TV adventurers such as Superman, the Lone Ranger, and Zorro, even breaking a leg after leaping fearlessly off his bed in full crusader mode and landing hard unlike his more nimble black-capped hero. But he carried that enthusiasm into his youthful acting career that would soon flourish.
Ironically, Mumy ended up working alongside his Zorro idol – Guy Williams – who would play space dad to the adventurous boy astronaut who ‘saved the day’ on many occasions beginning with the first season of “Lost in Space” in 1965.
Riding high on the success of earlier roles in popular 60s series such as “The Twilight Zone” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” 1965 proved a particularly good year for little Billy, not yet a teenager, that included guest-starring roles in beloved TV classics such as “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Bewitched,” and “The Munsters.”
That year, the young actor also portrayed a key character in the Twentieth Century Fox film “Dear Brigitte” starring Jimmy Stewart.
“(He) was the best overall artist I ever worked with,” recalled Mumy. “He truly was a wonderful man and showed me how you strive to be a good actor and to treat your coworkers well. The vast majority of actors and directors I worked with as a child were very happy with me because I always knew my lines and got things done quickly.”
While he experienced few professional ‘horror stories’ during his career, an exception was Alfred Hitchcock who terrified 7-year-old Billy on the set of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” Mumy says the director apparently whispered in his ear during a scene to stop shuffling about or he would nail his feet to the floor!
Beyond acting, Mumy has worn many hats including those of musician, singer, songwriter, author, and voice actor (see www.billmumy.com), but still recognizes the nostalgic value “Lost in Space” has for fans who grew up in the 60s. It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that Mumy included the name of his plucky young space adventurer in the new book’s title.
“Every child has a gift and mine from an early age was being able to easily memorize a script and deliver the dialogue believably,” he says. “I loved being little superhero Will Robinson. As a child actor, he was everything I ever wanted to be.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala, and has written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers. See www.getnickt.org.

An Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist hopes a new, two-year grant will help him pinpoint the genetic variants that can cause age-related hearing loss.
Scientist Gaurav Varshney, Ph.D., will receive $469,000 from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a part of the National Institutes of Health.
Varshney’s lab studies human disease through zebrafish. More than 80% of human genes known to be associated with disease have a counterpart gene in the paperclip-sized fish.
In the U.S., hearing loss affects 1 in 8 people ages 12 and older, according to the NIH. The numbers rise as we age, with 1 in 3 experiencing hearing loss among those 65 to 74 years old.
Genetic causes account for up to half of all hearing loss cases, Varshney said. Scientists have narrowed the possible responsible genetic variants to about 100 mutations through genomewide association studies.
One such U.K. study, published in 2019, analyzed the DNA of 250,000 people between 40 and 69 years old with diagnosed and self-reported hearing loss. That study identified 44 regions within the DNA where one or more genetic mutations could cause hearing loss.
Humans and zebrafish share 39 of those 44 regions. Those 39 areas will be the focus of Varshney’s research.
“We want to pinpoint the specific genes within those 39 regions that could be responsible for hearing loss,” he said. “With that information, scientists can design better treatments for the condition.”
Varshney’s lab will use the gene-editing tool CRISPR/Cas9 to turn off individual genes within a given DNA region in the fish. To determine whether that missing gene results in hearing loss, his team will track fish behavior immediately after generating a startling sound. He’ll then repeat this process for genes in all 39 regions.
“Dr. Varshney’s research is a critical step, and it’s representative of how genetic studies often work,” said Patrick Gaffney, M.D., who chairs OMRF’s Genes and Human Disease Research Program. “You narrow the list of potential mutations until one day, hopefully, you can target a specific mutation with a drug therapy. That’s the direction his research is headed.”
Varshney’s grant is 1R21DC020317-01A1.

Dear Savvy Senior,

What steps need to be taken after a loved one dies? My 71-year-old uncle, who’s divorced with no children, has terminal cancer. He’s asked me to take care of his affairs so I would like to find out what I need to do after he passes away.– Unsure Nephew

Dear Unsure,
I’m very sorry to hear about your uncle. The death of a loved of can bring about a host of different tasks and responsibilities. Here’s a list of some things you can do now, and after his death, that can help keep a sad event from becoming even more difficult.
Before Death Occurs
There are several tasks you can do now while your uncle is still living that will make things easier for you after he dies.
For starters, find out where he keeps all his important papers like his trust and/or will (also make sure it’s updated), birth certificate, Social Security information, life-insurance policies, military discharge papers, financial documents, key or combination to a safe deposit box or a home safe. Also make a list of his digital assets (including usernames and passwords) like his email account, online banking accounts, social media accounts, etc.
If your uncle doesn’t have an advanced directive, help him make one (see CaringInfo.org for free state-specific forms and instructions). An advanced directive includes a living will that specifies his end-of-life medical treatments and appoints a health-care proxy to make medical decisions if he becomes incapacitated. In addition, you should also make a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. Your uncle’s doctor can help you with this.
You should also pre-arrange his funeral, memorial service, and burial or cremation.
Immediately After Death
Once your uncle dies, you’ll need to get a legal pronouncement of death. If no doctor is present, you’ll need to contact someone to do this.
If he dies at home under hospice care, call the hospice nurse, who can declare his death and help facilitate the transport of the body.
If he dies at home without hospice care, call your uncle’s doctor. You’ll then need to call the funeral home, mortuary or crematorium to pick up the body. If your uncle is an organ or tissue donor, contact the funeral home or the county coroner immediately.
Within a Few Days
If funeral plans were not pre-arranged, you’ll need to make arrangements and prepare an obituary. If your uncle was in the military or belonged to a fraternal or religious group, you should contact those organizations too, because they may have burial benefits or conduct funeral services.
You should also notify family members, close friends and his employer if he was still working, and make sure his home is secured.
Up to 10 Days After Death
To wind down your uncle’s financial affairs, you’ll need to get multiple copies of his death certificate, which are typically ordered by the funeral home.
If you’re the executor of your uncle’s estate, take his will to the appropriate county or city office to have it accepted for probate. And open a bank account for your uncle’s estate to pay bills, including taxes, funeral costs, etc.
You also need to contact your uncle’s estate attorney if he has one; tax preparer to see if estate or final income taxes should be filed; financial advisor for information on financial holdings; life insurance agent to get claim forms; his bank to locate and close accounts; and Social Security, the VA (if he’s a veteran) and other agencies that provided benefits in order to stop payments.
You should also cancel his credit cards, delete or memorialize his social media accounts and, if relevant, stop household services like utilities, mail, etc. His home and personal belonging will also need to be dealt with in the coming weeks.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.