The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation honored Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK) recently with its inaugural Multiple Sclerosis Advocate Award.
Cole received the award for his role in championing biomedical research on MS and other diseases. The ceremony took place at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, during a dinner that also raised more than $270,000 for research and patient care at OMRF’s Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence.
During his nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Cole has advocated for biomedical research on the national level. Cole is the former Chairman and current Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. Under his leadership, the National Institutes of Health’s budget has grown almost $8 billion since 2014.
“Congressman Cole has used his considerable influence to benefit those suffering from disease,” said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, who serves on OMRF’s board and presented the award to Cole. “Multiple sclerosis is one of many diseases that impacts the lives of Oklahomans, and Tom understands their struggle. It fuels his passion for funding research that ultimately will make a difference for countless Americans.”
MS causes vision problems, tremors, paralysis, painful spasms, imbalance and cognitive changes. At OMRF, more than 3,000 MS patients receive treatment from clinicians, who also team with laboratory researchers in an effort to develop new treatment options.
“Everyone has family members and loved ones who are affected by some form of disease,” said Cole. “Regardless of your politics, funding for biomedical and disease research is always a worthy cause. As I serve in Congress, I will continue fighting to sustain and increase the gains that we have made, so centers of research excellence like OMRF can continue to pursue groundbreaking research to find more cures and treatments that benefit all of society.”
Those efforts, said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D., have indeed made a difference.
“Congressman Cole prioritized research funding and has been responsible for historic increases,” said Prescott. “Because of his leadership, we’re now seeing new and meaningful discoveries that will change—and save—lives.”
The Chickasaw Nation served as the lead sponsor of the event, which also received support from Nancy Ellis, Lou and Jim Morris, Susan and Louis Dakil, the Clyde Evans Trust, and the Scaramucci Foundation.

https://www.caresuitesokc.com/

story and photo by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

When Pearline Childress’ family circle in her lifelong hometown of Coweta started growing smaller and smaller, she knew she needed to make a change.
Her son, Dave, knew it was a decision she couldn’t make alone.
“I would see mom on average once a month and my sister would see her maybe once a week,” said Dave, an Edmond native who travels extensively for business. “Since her sister passed away her social interaction just wasn’t very much.”
Both children poured over brochures and facilities and options.
During the process, Tealridge Retirement Coordinator Kristen Moss urged the entire Childress family to come up for lunch one Saturday.
“It helps when they can come enjoy the community for a couple events before they move in,” Moss said. “We spent pretty much all afternoon on that Saturday sitting and talking with residents. I think we try to incorporate more of the activity of living here before they even move to give them a glimpse and give them that trial.”
The afternoon was one to remember.
“The staff, I just fell in love with these guys from the jump,” he said. “But it’s the residents that really make it.”
The decision to move to Tealridge meant Pearline Childress would leave behind 72 years of life in Coweta – a place where she had taught school and raised her children.
Moving would mean separation from all she had known.
But little did she know, moving would also prepare her heart for more people to move in.
“Everybody is just so nice and friendly,” Pearline said. “It’s really impressed me.”
Now just eight miles down the road, Dave Childress comes up most mornings to have coffee with his mom.
During the process, Childress told his wife that his biggest wish was to show up one day and his mother would be sitting out front surrounded by friends.
“I thought if we could ever get there that would make my heart happy,” he said. “I think it was middle of last week I popped up here and I walked in and she was out there with the ladies.”
“It made me feel really good.”
Elaine Rowton knows that feeling well.
Rowton spent 35 years as office manager for an Edmond pediatric dentist before moving to Tealridge.
She lived on the other side of Oklahoma Christian for 40 years before her and her late husband finalized plans for their next move. He passed last year but Rowton never wavered on her decision to come to Tealridge.
“Everything just clicked, clicked, clicked like it was a God thing,” said Rowton, who has lived at Tealridge for three months after following her neighbor of 25 years to the residence. “We looked at other facilities but this was my choice. I like that I have lots of neat friends.”
Daily housekeeping, laundry and trash service, three meals a day and welcoming staff all come together to make Rowton feel at home.
“I feel secure here. The place has a really special, comforting atmosphere to it,” she said.
Macular degeneration started working on Ruby White’s eyesight a few years ago. Her sister convinced her to move to Washington to come live with her but she didn’t feel right once she got there so she moved back to Oklahoma.
The 45-year nurse used an online search company and her telephone to find a home.
“I think I drove these people totally crazy,” she said. “I talked to every one of them because I didn’t know really what to expect. I chose this because they were so helpful. They helped me decide I could be OK here. I wasn’t sure of that.”
And in a short period of time at Tealridge, all three ladies know everything is going to be just fine. Visit: https://www.seniorliving-edmond.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt-r01IeB6AIVjIbACh2dRgmrEAAYASAAEgIIS_D_BwE

by Greg Schwem

A deadly disease is nothing to joke about and, until a cure is found, should probably not be mentioned in the space encompassing a humor column.
Using that logic, I should be writing about bubonic plague, not coronavirus.
The latter is indeed serious. It has killed nearly 1,000 people in China while placing that country on virtual lockdown. According to The Washington Post, it has quarantined 3,700 passengers aboard a cruise ship anchored off Yokohama, Japan, after 136 of them tested positive for the virus so far. Imagine being trapped on a ship for an extra two weeks? With a magician? Not funny.
It has had a severe negative impact on stock portfolios heavily invested in Chinese-based companies, unless one of those companies manufactures surgical masks.
Yes, we should all take precautions, as, currently, that is the only way to avoid the virus. However, it does not mean we should, not so subtly, move far away from that guy in the hotel elevator just because a pesky nose hair caused him to sneeze between the 15th floor and the lobby.
Which is precisely what happened to me.
It occurred recently in an upscale Orlando hotel. I boarded the elevator surrounded by an assortment of conventioneers, sunbathers and families headed to Disney parks. I felt the tickle in my nose almost immediately and knew a sneeze was imminent. I raised my elbow to my face, as is my standard “pre-achoo” practice. I let it rip into my sleeve.
“Excuse me,” I said.
But this time there were no polite, “Bless you” responses. The other riders looked uncomfortably at me and then shifted their gazes to the floor. Most moved, not subtly, as far away as the elevator’s confines would allow. When the car stopped on floor two, a Disney mom emitted an audible groan. At last the elevator reached the lobby and everyone scattered. It could have been my imagination, but I sensed all waited to see which way I was headed so they could exit in the opposite direction. And here’s the kicker: I actually HEARD Disney Mom say to her husband, “He’s probably got coronavirus.”
Trust me lady, he doesn’t. Upon leaving the elevator, he doesn’t need to be sprayed with disinfectant by medical officials in hazmat suit, a scene that played out recently when passengers disembarked a flight from Wuhan, China, the virus’s epicenter.
He just needs some nose hair trimmers. Maybe you could take the 10 bucks you were going to spend on a Mickey-shaped funnel cake and purchase them for me.
We’ve seen this paranoid, accusatory behavior before. SARS, West Nile and swine flu come to mind. Even if we don’t have it, we assume anybody showing a single symptom undoubtedly does.
Now, I’m a guy who has consumed yogurt past its expiration date, sat on toilet seats without paper covers, shared bottled drinks with my kids and allowed dogs to lick my face. Yet I’ve still been prone to this “guilty until proven innocent” behavior. When I see someone in an airport or other public facility wearing a mask, I don’t assume they are taking precautions to avoid catching a disease; I assume they’re CARRYING one. China has, for the moment, been removed from my “places to visit” bucket list. I know this is silly as I long to scale the Great Wall and stroll through Tiananmen Square.
I need to stop this behavior, and so does everyone else. Want to avoid catching coronavirus? Wash your hands often with soap, as medical officials say that works better than shunning humanity. Have someone else push your elevator floor button if you must. Don’t sample those community dishes of nuts at bars. Avoid touching your mouth with your hands. It’s not that difficult.
Coronavirus is not going to stop me from indulging in my favorite pastime, human interaction, nor should it preclude anyone else from doing so.
Even if that human is a cruise ship magician.
(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)

www.harborchase.com

Effective February 10, the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID)’s Oklahoma City Office will be relocated to our new facility: Oklahoma Insurance Department, 400 NE 50th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
As part of the moving process, email and network access will be limited from Wednesday, February 5 through Friday, February 7, 2020. The Oklahoma Insurance Department will resume normal operations on Monday, February 10, 2020 on its regular schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For immediate assistance during this time, you may call Communications Director Liz Heigle at 405-522-0683.
We thank you for your patience and cooperation during these few days as we transition to a more efficient and effective office environment.
If you have questions about other insurance issues, contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at www.oid.ok.gov.

EMSA and INTEGRIS Health have partnered to develop a one-of-a-kind specialty care transport ambulance. On Monday, this unit, designated “ECMO 1”, will join the EMSA system.
INTEGRIS Health is proud to be the home of a world class ECMO program that offers lifesaving therapies to patients facing imminent death. INTEGRIS is the first in the state to establish a specialized life support program solely devoted to adult patients suffering from heart or lung failure. The program uses extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, commonly abbreviated as ECMO, as an advanced lifesaving therapy. Since inception of the INTEGRIS ECMO program in 2014, the INTEGRIS team has served over 500 patients with this technology. INTEGRIS’ ECMO team is made up of talented doctors, nurses, perfusionists, and respiratory therapists, who are expertly trained in the field of ECMO and advanced critical care. The INTEGRIS ECMO team is available to serve those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
ECMO provides support to patients whose heart and/or lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can no longer serve their function; perhaps after a heart attack, cardiac surgery, pulmonary embolism, near drowning or lung-related issues such as flu or pneumonia. The goal is to allow the heart or lungs to rest and recover while the machine does all the work. When the heart or the lungs have healed and can work on their own, the lifesaving support of the ECMO artificial heart/lung machine is weaned then removed.
INTEGRIS Critical Care ECMO team in conjunction with EMSA provides the highest level of complex care in the state. Outside of ECMO transfers, the INTEGRIS and EMSA teams have the capability of transporting patients who require advanced management of ventilator support, IV medications, and cardiac assist devices including intraaortic balloons pumps, impella devices, and LVAD pumps. The expertise of this team allows for safe inter-hospital transfers, so patients can receive the one of a kind care only INTEGRIS can provide.
Previously only done in a hospital setting, technological advances have allowed ECMO to move into ambulances. Together with EMSA, the INTEGRIS ECMO team stands ready to be there anytime, anywhere, for anyone in need of this life-saving care.
EMSA’s ECMO unit specifications were designed in collaboration with the INTEGRIS Health ECMO Team. Special attention was paid to the layout of the ambulance to make sure the patient could receive the critical clinical care needed, could comfortably and safely transport up to five ECMO Team Members in addition to the patient during long distance transports. Additionally, the larger ambulance also has the capacity to carry more oxygen and other medical gasses that are needed for ECMO patients.
When not assigned to ECMO transports, this unit will serve as one of EMSA’s bariatric ambulances for the Oklahoma City area ensuring this unit is able to serve several key roles in the EMSA system.

The Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, Gail S. Ennis, is designating Thursday, March 5, 2020 as National “Slam the Scam” Day, to raise public awareness of government imposter telephone scams across the United States.
These pervasive scams—in which callers pretend to be government employees to mislead victims into providing personal information or making payments—have become a scourge on the American public. The Federal Trade Commission recently reported victims lost nearly $153 million to government imposter scams in just fiscal year 2019. Social Security-related scams in particular have skyrocketed over the past year to become the #1 type of consumer fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration.
To combat these scams, the Social Security Administration and its OIG have undertaken a public outreach campaign to educate the public so they will know how to identify these scam calls. We want the public to know SSA will never:
* Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended, or offer to increase your benefits or resolve an identity theft issue for a fee.
* Call to threaten you with arrest or legal action if you do not immediately pay a debt, fine, or fee.
* Request immediate payment via gift cards, cash, wire transfers, or internet currency like Bitcoin.
* Demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Security-related problem, or tell you to make up a story to tell your friends, family, or store/bank employees.
Social Security Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is engaging other Federal agencies and the private sector to promote a National “Slam the Scam Day” as a National Consumer Protection Week initiative. On March 5, we plan to participate in a USA.gov-hosted Twitter chat, and a Facebook Live event at Social Security. We want to warnallAmericans to hang up on all government imposters, and ask them to spread the word to family and friends.
“Awareness is our best hope to thwart the scammers,” said Inspector General Ennis. “Tell your friends and family about these scams and report them to us when you receive them, but most importantly, just hang up and ignore the calls.”
We encourage the public to report Social Security scams online at https://oig.ssa.gov. IRS imposter scams can be reported to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and other government imposter scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
Look for us on Facebook and Twitter for updates about National “Slam the Scam” Day events. For questions or interview requests, email oig.dcom@ssa.gov or call (410) 965-2671.
Please visit https://oig.ssa.gov/scam for more information

Themed Event to Celebrate “Route 66: The Ultimate American Road Trip”

HarborChase of South Oklahoma, a new luxury senior living community, is hosting “Route 66: The Ultimate American Road Trip” from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday, March 12. In honor of the community’s grand opening, the event will feature live entertainment, community tours, cocktails, chef-prepared cuisine and a celebration of the iconic sights of Route 66. HarborChase of South Oklahoma City is managed by Harbor Retirement Associates (HRA), a regional senior living development and management company based in Vero Beach, Florida.

“We’re very excited to host this Grand Opening Celebration as we formally open the doors to HarborChase of South Oklahoma,” said Willie Ferguson, Executive Director of HarborChase of South Oklahoma City. “This is truly going to be an evening to remember for our friends, associates, residents and family members. This festive event will pay homage to the beloved and iconic ‘Mother Road.’ We look forward to introducing new friends to the unsurpassed hospitality and luxurious amenities of HarborChase.”

During the event, HarborChase of South Oklahoma City will host community walking tours of its grounds and amenities. The celebration will feature live entertainment and a variety of themed food and beverage stations, each one celebrating one of Route 66’s iconic sights or exits. Guests will have an opportunity to win prizes with a series of prize drawings. Space is limited. For more information or to RSVP, call (405) 259-2309.

Located at 10801 South May Avenue, HarborChase features 24-hour staff, supportive services, scheduled transportation daily, housekeeping service, concierge services and the exclusive Chef’s Fare Dining program with customized dining experiences in multiple restaurants. It also includes HarborChase’s signature Life Enrichment program, designed to provide social, devotional, fitness and recreational opportunities that have a positive impact on residents.

For more information on HarborChase of South Oklahoma City, visit www.HarborChase.com.

by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

It’s a scene that continues to play itself over and over again whenever folks taste Jerel Jalbert’s barbecue sauces.
The culinary-trained Jalbert has been making BBQ sauce for decades. He tweaked it here and there during his 20 years in the Air Force and brought his love for sauce to the Sooner State when they moved here 20 years ago.
“My two kids said ‘Dad you have this barbecue sauce and you need to do something with it,’” he said.
He decided to take his original sauce and started testing it on groups. The feedback recommended a medium and a hot version were necessary.
It took 18 months to come up with the right spice levels before Papa J’s BBQ launched August 2014.
“We did a lot of test groups and had a lot of people try it. We knew we had a good product but the challenge was getting it processed and getting it ready,” he said. “But everyone seems to really like it.”
FAMILY AFFAIR
Papa J’s is family-owned with Jalbert’s two sons pulling equal weight.
“We’re all part of the company and we’re all owners and each one has a job,” he said.
Eldest son, Jeffrey, serves as the finance officer.
Youngest son, James, is the marketing director.
James jokes there’s absolutely no pressure when it comes to marketing the family business.
“It’s an easy product to market to be quite honest.” Being that we’re such a rare sauce in the fact we’re a whiskey barbecue sauce make it that much easier to really sell and market it. I think it comes down to how you sell it, how you present it to your customers and really come up with a great sales technique to make that happen.”
James’ degree is in marketing. He’s a loan underwriter at a local bank during the day when he’s not hitting up customer’s about the family sauce.
“I knew it was going to be a challenge,” Jeffrey said. “Raising the capital has been difficult. We’re a pretty blue collar family. You don’t make much in the military and on a military pension so there wasn’t a whole lot.”
Jeffrey drew heavily on his contacts as a commercial lender locally. He’s now a chief financial officer for a highway construction company.
“I take a lot of the tools I’ve learned in my current role and try to implement in our small business, the barbecue business,” he said.
This year the focus is on expanding distributorships and getting onto more Oklahoma shelves.
Barbecue-focused businesses are a natural draw but the family would one day like to see the Papa J’s brand at stores like Crest and Whole Foods.
“This year we’ve shifted to try to go to greater volume to increase sales,” Jeffrey said, acknowledging forging those relationships takes time. “Some of those companies want to sell wholesale for $2 or $3. When it’s $4.50 to $5 a jar … I think they’re harder to sell on.
“So it’s trying to find those companies that are willing to specialize a little more and in the quality of that sauce.”
Papa J smiles when you ask which whiskey he uses.
“People always ask what we use and the analogy I use is if you go into a package store whiskey is on levels. The cheap stuff is on the bottom, there’s the mid stuff and your top shelf,” he said. “We’re up there.”
Matriarch Hope tries her best to support her boys in the venture as well as put a lovable face on the brand at the multitude of shows, bazaars and events the company markets at.
“I introduce people by letting them sample. I do hands-on stuff,” she laughs. “The majority of the people love it. I describe the flavor first.”
The original sauce has the most whiskey flavor. The spicy version is a warm spice. The smoking hot is a five-second delayed heat tingle on the back of the tongue.
Forget the syrupy sweet or vinegary tang most sauces leave in your mouth.
Papa J’s sauces have a smoothness that you can definitely tell took a while to arrive at.
Papa J credits that smoothness to the whiskey.
And as to where Papa J’s goes in the future, Papa J has high hopes.
“I hope it’s an inheritance for my kids,” Papa J said. “I want it to grow and really take off. Barbecue in Oklahoma is really competitive. There’s a lot of sauces out there and you have to find that unique niche.”
We think we’ve found that but it’s a challenge to get to those places and have the availability.”
You can find out where to find Papa J’s sauces online at papajsbbq.com or on Facebook.

https://www.mcmmedicare.com/

Dear Savvy Senior, What kinds of legal documents do I need to prepare to help my family after I’m gone? I would like to get my affairs in order but could use some help.  Almost 75

Dear Almost,
All adults – especially seniors – should have at least four essential legal documents to protect yourself and your family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your health care providers if you become seriously ill or when you die. Here are the key documents you need, along with some tips to help you create them.
Will: This document lets you spell out your wishes of how you’d like your property and assets distributed after you die, whether it’s to family, friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out and allows you to name guardians if you have dependent children.
In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a “revocable living trust.” This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you die) and helps ensure your estate’s privacy.
Durable Power of Attorney: This allows you to designate someone you trust to handle your financial matters if you become incapacitated.
Advanced Health Care Directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. The two documents are a “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” (or health care proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable.
You should also consider making a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) as part of your advance directive, since advanced directives do little to protect you from unwanted emergency care like CPR. To create a DNR, ask your doctor to fill out a state appropriate form and sign it.
Do-It-Yourself
If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are do-it-yourself resources that can help you create all these documents for very little money. Some options to consider include Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2020 software (available at Nolo.com) that costs $90 and works with Windows and Macs and is valid in every state except Louisiana. And LegalZoom.com, which offers an estate plan with professional legal guidance with an independent attorney for $179.
Get Help
If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases – especially when writing a will or living trust – which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.
Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for a basic estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney and advance directive. If you want your estate plan to include a living trust, that can run anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC.org) are two good resources that have directories on their websites to help you find someone in your area.
If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see www.FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral.
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.