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.

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

The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is warning citizens about a suspicious email “phishing” scheme that recently surfaced. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) received reports that several hundred employees of a private company, with offices across the country, recently received an email message that appears to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The message alerts a recipient of “unusual” activity with his or her Social Security number (SSN).
The email subject line reads, “Review Your Social Security Activity”, and while the email sender displayed is “Social Security Administration,” the corresponding email address is ceriley@centurytel.net. The message includes a PDF attachment with the heading “Notification.” It advises the recipient, “We detected something unusual about a recent use of your SSN” and “to help keep you safe, we required an extra security challenge.” The message states that if the recipient did not recently use his or her SSN, then a “malicious user” might have misused the recipient’s number. It asks the recipient to review recent activity via an embedded link, which links to a suspicious SSA-like site. Further, to appear legitimate, the notice includes SSA’s official seal and the words “Social Security Administrator, United States Of America” in the signature.
This type of phishing scheme could lead to identity theft or Social Security benefit theft. Therefore, Acting Inspector General Stone urges all citizens to be extremely cautious when receiving requests to provide personal information over the internet or the telephone. “Don’t provide your Social Security number, bank account numbers, or other personal information, including account passwords, over the internet or by telephone unless you know and trust the source requesting it,” Stone said. “You should be extremely confident that the source is a legitimate entity, and that your information will be secure after you provide it.”
Before clicking an embedded email link, try to verify the source. One method of verifying the true source is to hover over the linked text, without clicking, to reveal the destination address. For instance, in the email described above, the attachment includes the text “Review your activity,” which links to www.ssa.gov.kerodun.net/activity. While ssa.gov appears in the destination address, the “kerodun.net/activity” portion of the address is suspicious; users should be vigilant of similar questionable web addresses.
If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text, or phone call—that claims to be from SSA, Stone recommends contacting a local Social Security office, or calling Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its
Fraud Advisory
legitimacy. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call Social Security’s TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)
Individuals may report suspicious activity involving Social Security programs and operations to the Social Security Fraud Hotline at https://oig.ssa.gov/report, or by phone at 1-800-269-0271, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call the OIG TTY number at 1-866-501-2101.)
For more information, please contact Andrew Cannarsa, the OIG’s Acting Communications Director, at (410) 965-2671.

Take a stroll through one of these VirtualTourist recommended City parks.
Central Park, New York City, N.Y.
New ork City’s Central Park is perhaps an obvious choice, but hard to beat. Central Park was the first public park built in America, and was constructed in the middle of the 19th century to create a breathing space for the 500,000 people then living in New York City. It occupies 843 acres of prime real estate between Fifth and Eighth Avenues, stretching from 59th Street south to 110th Street north. On any given day you will find New Yorkers and tourists there in numbers, making full use of this wonderful green oasis in an otherwise manic city. Whether walking, jogging, running, exercising dogs or themselves, boating on the lake, playing ball, catching up with friends on one of the many benches or simply lying in the sun — there are so many ways in which to enjoy Central Park. VirtualTourist members say one of their favorite things is to take a walk in the part of the park known as the Ramble, a protected ecosystem that feels more like the woods than a park, and then relax for a while on a bench watching the rowers on the lake. Other activities include a visit to Central Park Zoo, a ride on the carousel and a walking tour.
St. James Park, London, England
St. James Park, the oldest Royal Park in London, is surrounded by three palaces — Westminster, the oldest, and now the Houses of Parliament, St James’ and, of course, Buckingham Palace. While VirtualTourist members say that all the London parks provide a welcome green oasis, St. James has the edge. Perhaps it’s the lovely lake with so many beautiful water birds, or maybe the great views to be had from its bridge. Stand there for a while and look toward Whitehall — the domes and copulas will make you think you are somewhere far more exotic than London. Then turn to look the other way and you’ll see one of the city’s most famous buildings, Buckingham Palace, which some say looks better from this distance than close up. This is also a great park for picnics, and for people-watching. So linger a while on the benches — or why not follow a great London parks’ tradition and hire a deck chair? And if you’re looking for refreshments, the park has an excellent restaurant and several snack kiosks. VT Tip: The famous resident pelicans are fed every day at 2:30 p.m.
Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia
One of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner-city parks, Kings Park in Perth has Aboriginal and European history, wonderful views of the city and the most spectacular Western Australian Botanic Garden, which displays more than 3,000 species of the state’s unique flora. There are sculptures, water gardens, a treetop walk, a gift shop, cafes and restaurants, wildlife and much more. One of the most moving experiences is the Memorial Walking Trail (1 mile). Along the war memorial path, you will pass the Flame of Remembrance whose flame never goes out. A look at it and you can see four torches, each one represents one of these forces — Navy, Air Force, Army and Women’s Services. It is a place to come and stand in silence, remembering the Western Australians who served in the wars and lost their lives. Around the walls are the names of all the major battlefields and there are plaques with the names of the Victorian Cross and the George Cross recipients from Western Australia.
Deukmejian Wilderness Park, Glendale, Calf.
Not many small- or medium-size cities can boast of three mountain ranges within its border, but Glendale, California, does. Stretching east and north from the San Fernando Valley, the city takes in substantial parts of the San Rafael Hills and the Verdugo Mountains, plus a small slice of the San Gabriel Mountains at the city’s northern extremity. At this northernmost spot in Glendale, overlooking the foothill communities of La Crescenta and Tujunga, lies Deukmejian Wilderness Park, named after former California Governor George Deukmejian. The 709-acre wilderness park features a picnic area, amphitheater, miles of hiking trails and plenty of parking. It is home to the historic Le Mesnager Barn, built in 1914, which the city is committed to turning into an interpretive center in the not-too-distant future. It is also home to the city’s robust volunteer Trails and Open Space program, which provides the community with opportunities for habitat restoration, interpretive programs, trail maintenance and trail safety patrols. The park is open from 6 a.m. until one hour after sundown and entrance is always free. VirtualTourist members say one of their favorite things here is the amazing views of Los Angeles, stretching as far as Santa Monica and Catalina Island on a clear day; as well as the animal spotting. Keep an eye out for numerous species of mammals, including coyote, mule deer, gray fox, bobcat and mountain lion, as well as a vast array of common lizards, snakes and 23 species of birds, including California quail, northern flicker, scrub jay, Nuttall’s woodpecker, American kestrel and Cooper’s, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks. Golden eagles and California black bears have also been spotted!
Kandawgyi Park, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar
If the bustle of downtown Yangon is getting to you, you may want to go for a relaxing stroll in the Kandawgy Park, which translates as Royal Lake. There are plenty of shaded areas and it is very peaceful. The centerpiece of the park is the large Karaweik (Royal Barge). This is not an ancient monument, but a modern construction that houses a function hall amongst other things. As well as the Karaweik, there is a small children’s zoo and play area and various food outlets. The park also serves as a venue for pop concerts on the weekends. Somewhat incongruously, you may spot a fully camouflaged tank nestled amongst the bushes and there is a bevy of black swans on the lake making the entire scene quite beautiful. There is an admission charge for foreigners, about $2 USD.

(c) 2016 Virtualtourist.com, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Local In-home Senior Care Company to Bring 50 New Jobs to the Area

Senior Helpers, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care, today announced the official opening of its Greater Oklahoma City North location, to be managed and operated by husband and wife team John and Laurie Stansbury together with their partner, Sharon Johnson MSN, RN, CNE, who will serve as president and chief nursing officer. The new franchise will serve senior citizens and their families throughout the Greater Oklahoma City area, which includes Edmond, Deer Creek, Piedmont, Warr Acres, Bethany, Yukon, Mustang, Midwest City, Del City, Moore-Norman, and Guthrie. It hopes to bring more than 50 new jobs to the region over the next year. Senior Helpers’ professionally trained caregivers will help local seniors continue to enjoy the comfort of their own home despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges.
“All three of us have personal experience caring for a family member living with early onset Alzheimer’s, and we understand profoundly how challenging it can be without the proper care,” said Laurie. “Through Senior Helpers, we’re providing a valuable resource by helping to alleviate this stress and ensure a better quality of life for families in our community through personalized in-home senior care.” Sharon adds, “Over the years, Senior Helpers has established itself as the best option for navigating the challenges of in-home senior care today, and we are proud to be a part of this company.”
Founded in 2001, Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves. Its caregivers in Oklahoma City are fully trained and certified to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company’s Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and Dementia care program. As the gold standard for excellence in personalized in-home senior care, the program was developed in conjunction with nationally recognized dementia care expert Teepa Snow and is endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and the American Society on Aging. Local residents will also benefit from the company’s new Parkinson’s Care Program, a specialized training and certification program created in conjunction with leading experts from the National Parkinson Foundation’s Center of Excellence.
“We’re pleased to welcome Laurie, John and Sharon to our team as the newest Senior Helpers franchise owners,” said Chris Buitron, vice president of marketing for Senior Helpers. “This amazing triobrings a passion for their community and an acute understanding of in-home senior care to their new roles. This will serve them well and also will be rewarding for seniors and families living in Oklahoma City and the surrounding area.”
Senior Helpers is the nation’s largest premier in-home senior care company in the U.S. with over 270 franchised businesses operating across the country. Founded in 2001 with a vision to help seniors who wish to remain in their homes despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges, Senior Helpers has now cared for tens of thousands of seniors with a pledge to provide “care and comfort at a moment’s notice.” Senior Helpers offers a wide range of personal care and companion services, including trained Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s care, to assist seniors who wish to live independently. Learn more by visiting http://www.seniorhelpers.com.

by Bobby Anderson,
Staff Writer

Christine Weigel, RN, arguably has one of the best nursing jobs in Oklahoma City.
Not only is she vice president of clinical services and system chief nurse officer for Community Hospital, but she recently opened the metro’s newest hospital.
Community Hospital North opened in early June and it’s already poised to be a high-volume facility patients are eager to utilize.
“I think we wanted patients to understand they are the center here and that they’ve got a nurse that is right there at the bedside,” Weigel said, taking a break from her busy schedule to offer a tour of the new facility. “We have an all-RN staff and truly all that was for the patient to be in the center of it all. That has made a huge difference in how it was designed. Everything was a touch that was easy for nursing which makes it that much easier for the patient.”
The look and the feel of the two-story facility is not only elegant but efficient. Rich wood flooring is complimented by large amounts of natural light.
“We really went for that high-tech but soft touch,” Weigel said. “We really wanted it to look more like a five-star hotel so it’s nice and comfortable. There’s a lot of high-technology and everything is integrated.”
Technology accents along the way all the way from the information screens in the front lobby to the advanced robots in the OR.
But it all blends seamlessly to give an atmosphere of a smaller, boutique hospital.
“Patients get to the point where they are already so anxious just when they come in the building so what we were trying to do is every piece of their experience was something that should be calming for them,” Weigel said. “Nothing should be frustrating. Nothing should be more tension to a patient. We want that quality of care that makes them get comfortable and feel comfortable in the environment.”
The hospital’s concierge service takes family and visitors directly to a patient’s room when it’s time. Patients are also tracked during every step of the way to allow both physicians and families to know at what stage and location they are in their procedure and recovery.
Family consultation rooms allow physicians and families to meet and discuss how a procedure went and what the next step in a patient’s recovery will be.
The patient rooms themselves are large and feature separate nooks for family members to pull out and sleep or check emails at the built-in desk. A curtain allows easy separation so family members can get sleep at night and not be woken by staff rounding.
“The patients are thrilled with the amount of room they’ve got,” Weigel said, noting each room has bedside computers for nursing.
Community Hospital’s north campus is located on the east side of the Broadway Extension, just north of Britton Rd in north Oklahoma City.
The Community Hospital north campus features 14 inpatient beds and eight operating suites, each equipped with the latest technology for orthopedic, plastic, pain management, ENT, endoscopic and general surgical procedures.
The expectation is that orthopedic and spine surgeries will account for much of the facility’s volume as well as pain management but Weigel says there is plenty of room for more general surgery.
“It’s more of a generalist type of facility even though in the past we’ve been more ortho-spine but I think it’s growing,” Weigel said. “We’re almost out of OR space already so the growth is just incredible.”
The hospital shares a license with the original 49-bed location in south Oklahoma City and Weigel said it compliments the existing facility in every way.
“The patient experience is the same. We’re very blessed with very high patient satisfaction,” Weigel said. “We’re beating Oklahoma City and we’re beating the nation. It’s not really an offshoot (location) but a world unto itself.”
Located right off of Broadway Extension, the new hospital offers easy access from north of Edmond to down south into Norman.
Weigel said some surgeons are drawing patients from as far away as Kansas. The addition of more younger surgeons specializing in shorter hospital times (one doing a total hip with a next day discharge) is already increasing word of mouth.
“The outcomes are incredible,” Weigel said. “Low to no infection rates which is huge and low complications … they’re doing a really good job.”
The hospital has recently earned several honors including a center of leadership distinction in pain control.
Weigel notes that some of the hospital’s post-operative successes can be attributed to mandatory education courses required before the patient even comes to the hospital.
“It’s all in advance,” Weigel said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time we get someone to come with them that’s going to be their caregiver so they understand the exercises and they know what the expectations are.”
The new facility is impressive but Weigel knows buildings don’t heal people.
“I don’t have to go looking for nurses or any staff,” Weigel said. “They come looking for us. We’ve got the knowledge that if we take really good care of our employees they take great care of our patients.”