by Bobby Anderson
Staff Writer

With mental health services in our state disappearing at an alarming rate AllianceHealth Midwest has doubled its commitment to helping patients.
The hospital has opened a new mental health unit featuring 32 patient rooms, large community rooms, a group therapy room and occupational therapy room. The hospital now has 72 beds and has a special focus for seniors.
In behavioral health for 25 years, James Hutchison was brought in by the health system to open the new unit.
“They needed experienced leadership from the psychiatric perspective,” Hutchison said. “They needed someone to grow them through the expansion. I fix things.”
Hutchison said for the last year the hospital was forced to turn away 75 seniors and 25 adults each month due to space restrictions.
The hospital applied to the state for a certificate of need in order to begin building.
Judy Anderson, RN, has been a nurse for 37 years now. She said the new facility is a blessing for all involved.
“This is going to be really nice for seniors, it’s state of the art, it’s something for them,” Anderson said. “I think people tend to push seniors back and we’re pushing seniors forward and that’s what I think is so important. A lot of people will instead of dealing with someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia they’ll put them in a nursing home and just not deal with them.”
DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM
Anderson understands that just because someone begins to show signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean that they immediately need to be in a long-term care facility.
“If we have them here sometimes we can get them on the right medication and they can go home and live successfully there for years,” she said.
Anderson said many times when you begin seeing a change in your loved one it can be spurred by treatable medical conditions sometimes as simple as a urinary tract infection.
“If we can get them in here early enough and address their medical problems … early onset dementia can be stopped with (medication) and they can go home and lead a normal life for a long time. We just have to get the public aware there are other alternatives.”
“People don’t live it until their parents have it.”
Gloria Ceballos, RN, PhD, serves AllianceHealth Midwest as the chief nursing officer. She said the hospital has a special focus on senior adults.
“It’s a commitment because our community needs it,” Ceballos said. “This unit will never cure anybody. This unit is here to address the crisis. We do know how to treat them with medications or trying some other treatment and incorporating the family.”
Hutchison said having a facility like this in place not only helps the patients and their families but the community as a whole.
When an untreated mental health patient acts out often times law enforcement is called.
“They pick up people with mental health issues and they don’t have any place to take them,” Hutchison said. “They take them to the emergency department because that’s their only option. There emergency department holds them one to two hours or one to two days. If that person is under arrest the officer has to stay with them that whole time which takes them off the street for hours.”
Once the patient leaves the hospital, Hutchison said they will often commit a crime whether intentionally or unintentionally.
“We’ve had a lot of patients say they don’t know what else to do. They do this because they don’t have any place to live or get medicine,” Hutchison said. “It causes a huge problem for law enforcement and the community because there is no place for them to go.”
The new facility will serve as a stabilization and treatment point at a time when providers are leaving the mental health arena.
“This hospital has basically invested a huge amount of money at a time when a lot of other places are closing,” Hutchison said. “Everybody knows about the legislative issues with funding so at a time when everyone is scaling back we spent a fortune on this floor.”
Providing a safe transition point is the focus and Anderson says AllianceHealth Midwest nurses are there to serve seniors in whatever capacity they need.
“I think one of the most important things we do here is not medication it’s listening, listening to the family about the problems and listening to the patient to find out what’s really going on,” Anderson said.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter inspires kids with type 1 diabetes to pursue their dreams

Crystal Bowersox understands how crucial it is to find a healthy balance on and off the stage. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 6, Crystal — now 30 — reached the heights of American Idol in 2010 and maintains an ongoing musical career. Having nearly lost her spot on the show due to a short hospitalization brought on by the rigorous taping and rehearsal schedule, she vowed to make it her mission to touch others impacted by diabetes with her music and her message.

On Wednesday, July 20, Crystal will visit Camp Blue Hawk, a residential camp serving Oklahoma kids also growing up with T1D. Camp Blue Hawk is a project of Harold Hamm Diabetes Center–Children’s at the University of Oklahoma. This year’s five-day camp will serve 48 children ages 10 to 15 near Guthrie at the Central Christian Camp and Conference Center. Crystal will meet the campers, share her story, and perform briefly.

“Growing up with diabetes, I felt isolated from other kids because they didn’t understand the challenges I faced, and today I know there are many who experience the same things,” said Crystal. “However, despite the obstacles, I learned how to manage the disease, and I try to live my life to the fullest.”

Crystal’s grit and determination caught the eye of Lilly Diabetes, which today introduced her as its newest type 1 diabetes ambassador. Crystal’s visit to Camp Blue Hawk is part of the Lilly Camp Care Package program, one of the largest diabetes camp support programs in the United States.

Attending a diabetes summer camp can be a valuable experience for children learning to live with the disease, particularly those transitioning from parental care to self-care. A three-year survey by the American Diabetes Association® showed camp experience increases children’s diabetes knowledge, self-confidence, diabetes management and emotional well-being. Camps are especially valuable for newly diagnosed campers (less than one year since initial diagnosis) changed the most, with 19 percent showing improvement in their ability to manage diabetes-related issues.

Since finishing as first runner-up on Season 9 of American Idol, Crystal has released two full-length albums and two EPs, mostly featuring her own original songs. She has collaborated with Joe Cocker, B.B. King, Alanis Morissette, Jakob Dylan, John Popper of Blues Traveler, and Melissa Etheridge, among others. Originally from Northwest Ohio, Crystal now makes her home in Nashville.

Harold Hamm Diabetes Center (HHDC) is an OU Medicine Center of Excellence leading the way to prevent, treat, and ultimately find a cure for diabetes. HHDC–Children’s is the center’s pediatric division, housed in the OU Children’s Physicians building in Oklahoma City. This is Camp Blue Hawk’s second year; campers are invited by medical staff at HHDC–Children’s, and every camper attends on scholarship. www.haroldhamm.org

By Jose M. Olivero
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Oklahoma

A home run is a highlight of any baseball game. The fans cheer with excitement to see a player rocket the ball into the stands. So, what are you doing to prepare for your retirement home run? Your goal should be to get past 1st, 2nd & 3rd base and make it home with a hefty plate of savings.
Social Security has many tools to help you achieve financial security. 
Take the first step and visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. The benefit of having a my Social Security account is that it gives you access to your personal Social Security Statement, verification of correct earnings, and an estimate of your early retirement benefits at age 62, full retirement age of 66, and delayed age at 70. 
We protect your information by using security features and strict identity verification to detect fraud. In several states including the newly added Idaho, Mississippi, and North Dakota, you can request a replacement Social Security card online. Find out if your state offers the service at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
In addition to using your personal my Social Security account to prepare for a comfortable retirement, you can visit www.myra.gov. At myRA, you can access new retirement savings options from the Department of the Treasury. This service is designed for the millions of Americans who struggle with saving for retirement — it’s an easy and safe way to help you take control of your future.  
myRA is designed for people who don’t have a retirement savings plan through their employer, or are limited from other savings options. If your employer provides a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k), learn more about that plan’s potential for matching contributions or other benefits.
Since myRA isn’t connected to any employer, it allows workers to hold on to it when they move to different jobs. myRA makes your money grow faster than a traditional savings account. 
Having both my Social Security and myRA accounts in place, you’re guaranteed to hit a home run in successfully planning for your future. Learn more about all of your choices at www.socialsecurity.gov.

by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

The fishing line hit the water at Lake Hefner and a Lisa Sydnor teared up.
The senior programs manager for The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma couldn’t help but getting a little misty-eyed watching the collection of senior men fishing from the docks on a picturesque June morning.
“It makes me cry,” Sydnor said. “The people that we are serving the majority of them live on virtually nothing. Can you imagine living on $750 a month? For them to be able to do something that they can enjoy and relax and they don’t have to worry about how much it costs …”
The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma recently received an $11,600 grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and its Wellness Initiative grant program.
The grant will be used to assist in funding senior men’s activity programs, which will allow The Salvation Army to increase its level of service to men at their five senior centers.
On this morning everything was paid for and all the men had to do was reel in the striped bass.
The Salvation Army received the funding the third week of June and by the end of the month Oklahoma City seniors were already dipping their lines into Lake Hefner and pulling out fish.
Sydnor said The Salvation Army received a similar elder grant last year that centered around dance instruction.
“Lots of ladies enjoyed that. We had a great time and a great turnout but the guys didn’t participate,” she said. “They don’t really participate (overall). The focus of this grant was to identify things men would enjoy.”
The funding has helped purchase all needed fishing gear and tackle plus the cost of permits.
“We wanted to find things our seniors could participate in and enjoy and get out. The more you’re out and the more you do the better your are, the better you feel and the better your health is. Our goal is to get our men up and moving.”
Leatherworking and woodworking classes are planned for July and August.
“As we evaluated our activities at the senior centers, we discovered the men’s interest and participation was significantly lower than the women’s,” Sydnor said. “We are so pleased to receive this grant as it will allow us to provide the activities our senior men have told us they want.”
The Wellness Initiative grant will fund wood and leather craft kits; sports equipment for pool, darts, indoor golf and horseshoes; fishing equipment; and, tickets to sporting events. By providing these activities, The Salvation Army strives to increase participation of both men and women in their senior programs.
The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma operates five senior centers throughout the Oklahoma City metro. The centers are open every weekday to seniors ages 55 and older. Seniors have the opportunity to socialize, enjoy lunch and participate in numerous activities that include Bible study, exercise classes, crafts, dancing and much more.
Sydnor said the program is available at no charge to seniors.
Approximately 139,000 Oklahomans receive assistance from The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.
For more information on the programs and services at The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma, please visit www.salvationarmyokcac.org.
If you would like more information on the centers or other programs you can contact Sydnor at her office at 405-246-1120.
Centers are open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Fridays the centers are open 8 a.m. until noon. Coffee and snacks are served each morning with lunch at 11:30.
“The best way to plug into a center is just to call us. We can tell you where all the centers are,” Sydnor said.

MISSION OF THE INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

A volunteer-driven transportation service providing safe, reliable, personalized and affordable rides to seniors (60+) and visually impaired adults to their destination of choice, 24/7, in private vehicles throughout OK County.
The Independent Transportation Network of Central Oklahoma, ITNCO, a newly established non-profit affiliate of ITN America, marks its’ one-year operational milestone this month. Currently ITNCO provides an average of 100 rides/month throughout the metro area. This new non-profit is guided by a strong and active board of directors with financial support from community grants and funds from local medical institutions and private donors.
In order to continue to serve an increasing number of riders, ITNCO seeks additional volunteer drivers from the greater OKC metro area.
Volunteers may choose which days and times they drive/week ranging from one afternoon or morning/week or more depending on weekly schedules and needs. Volunteers may “bank” their miles driven for their own future use or for another member of their congregation or organization. Volunteers receive a free rider membership that they can also share with a family member or friend.
Interested volunteer drivers may sign up at www.itncentraloklahoma.org and receive personal training and guidelines before giving first ride. Once confirmed, drivers receive email or text notices when rides are requested. The ITNCO friendly staff finalizes arrangements and sends a complete ride summary to volunteers in advance of each scheduled ride. Details on rider memberships and benefits to volunteers are listed on the ITN Central Oklahoma website, www.itncentraloklahoma.org.
“I enjoy getting to know my riders while driving them to the bank, dentist, beauty shop or store. I have driven a former teacher, doctor, sales manager, priest and nurse and each are so grateful and appreciative for the ride that I get a lift while giving one!” -Volunteer driver
In short, our ride service allows seniors to remain active and engaged in their community.
WAYS TO ASSIST INCLUDE:
· Schedule a presentation at your house of worship or community organization
· Volunteer as a driver online or contact Tracy, 602-1558
· Donate to ITNCO, a 501c3, or donate a Rider Membership ($50)
· Tracy Senat, Executive Director, info@itncentraloklahoma.org

What would be the first thing you would do when elected president?

If I was elected president I would try to meet with all the countries having problems with Al-Qaeda and figure out how to live on the planet together.  Glenda Nash

The first thing would be to make sure all the elderly had their benefits and make sure everyone had insurance. Ronald Haywood

Lower taxes for everybody.  Anthony Hudspeth

I’m going to say ensure equal rights for everybody.  Ronnie Pruiett