Oklahoma Health Aging Initiative (OHAI) will host its fourth annual Statewide Tai Chi-A-Thon on Friday, September 26, as part of National Falls Prevention Week.
Tai Chi is a series of gentle physical exercises and stretches. Generally safe for all ages and fitness levels, Tai Chi can help older adults reduce their risk of falling, while also increasing balance and flexibility. Health benefits include reduced blood pressure, better sleep, improved muscular strength and enhanced mental well-being. It does not matter how strong, flexible or active you are – Tai Chi is designed for people of all ages and levels of health.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at four locations across the state — Catoosa, Durant, Enid and Norman. It is open to participants 18 years and older, at no cost. To register and find the event location near you, visit www.ohai.org. On-site registration will also be available at the event, but those who pre-register by August 19, will have the opportunity to purchase an event t-shirt.
For additional questions or accommodations, contact OHAI at ohai@ouhsc.edu or by phone at (855) 227-5928.
OHAI is a program of the Donald W. Reynolds Section of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and is supported in part by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. OHAI is committed to enhancing the health and quality of life of older Oklahomans and their caregivers through community classes, workshops and professional trainings. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

“Internet Food Safety Myths”

This event is free to the public. The internet is a great resource for many things, but there is a lot of misinformation, especially about food safety. Learn about some common internet food safety myths and what to do instead to keep you and your family safe. The class will be taught by Kelsey Ratcliff, an FCS area Specialist in Health Disparities. Come join us at 9:30 AM, Thursday, September 22, at the Extension Conference Center, 2500 NE 63rd Street, OKC. There is no charge for the class.

Agency Expands Compassionate Allowances List

Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, recently announced 12 new Compassionate Allowances conditions: Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma, Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Disease, Microvillus Inclusion Disease – Child, Mowat-Wilson Syndrome, Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Excess Blasts, NUT Carcinoma, Pfeiffer Syndrome – Types II and III, Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia, Posterior Cortical Atrophy, Renal Amyloidosis – AL Type, and Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma.
The Compassionate Allowances program quickly identifies claims where the applicant’s condition or disease clearly meets Social Security’s statutory standard for disability. Due to the severe nature of many of these conditions, these claims are often allowed based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis alone. To date, more than 800,000 people with severe disabilities have been approved through this accelerated, policy-compliant disability process, which has grown to a total of 266 conditions.
“The Social Security Administration is committed to reducing barriers and ensuring people who are eligible for benefits receive them,” said Acting Commissioner Kijakazi. “Our Compassionate Allowances program allows us to strengthen that commitment by accelerating the disability application process for people with the most severe disabilities.”
When a person applies for disability benefits, Social Security must obtain medical records in order to make an accurate determination. The agency incorporates leading technology to identify potential Compassionate Allowances cases and make quick decisions. Social Security’s Health IT brings the speed and efficiency of electronic medical records to the disability determination process. With electronic records transmission, Social Security can quickly obtain a claimant’s medical information, review it, and make a fast determination.
For more information about the program, including a list of all Compassionate Allowances conditions, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
To learn more about Social Security’s Health IT program, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/hit.
People may apply online for disability benefits by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov.
To create a my Social Security account, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

The Oklahoma History Center (OHC) agrees with the fact that all individuals, children and adults alike, deserve a safe, dignified and clean restroom experience. Assistance with this need is common for adults who are aging or have disabilities and other conditions. Because of this, the OHC has recently installed a universal adult changing table in its Family Restroom, located on the first floor, to accommodate individuals with a range of disabilities and medical issues such as muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, paraplegia, cerebral palsy or those recovering from a stroke. Having access to such a table will provide a clean and safe environment, eliminating the unhygienic option of placing a loved one on a bathroom floor.
“We want to provide this amenity to families so they can extend their stays and won’t have to go out to their cars, or go home early, when a family member is in need,” said Dan Provo, director of the OHC.
In an interview earlier this year, disability advocate Audra Beasley was quoted as saying, “If we’re not planning for all, we’re not planning. We need to be asking ourselves what we are doing as great citizens of this state to hold the door for those coming in behind us, to build on the work of those before us. We need restroom access for all!”
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.

Oklahoma City’s Cattle Baron’s Ball celebrates 20 years of saving lives with a night of food, fun and fundraising – Friday September 23rd at the National Western Heritage Museum. This year’s event is being led by dedicated volunteer, Mary Blankenship Pointer, Vice President at Frontier State Bank.
Cattle Baron’s Ball is the signature philanthropy gala of the American Cancer Society.
This year’s western-themed “party with a purpose” features A-List entertainer and OKC local, Ty England. As well as games, food and beverage, live and silent auctions.
All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society and the Chad Richison Hope Lodge Oklahoma.
The Chad Richison Hope Lodge is a centrally located home-away-from-home for patients and their families opening this fall. It offers cancer patients and their caregivers free lodging while they travel to receive life-saving care from any of the area’s premier medical centers.
The $16.5 million facility is named in recognition of ACS’s capstone donor, Paycom Founder and CEO, Chad Richison. Mr. Richison is also this year’s Cattle Baron’s Ball honoree and will be recognized the night of the event.
Richison donated $5 million to fund Oklahoma’s first Hope Lodge. “This is a personal cause for many, including myself, and helps ensure anyone traveling for treatment will have one less item to worry about,” said Richison.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in Oklahoma. Each day, 49 Oklahomans are diagnosed with cancer. The American Cancer Society is working every day to free the worldfrom the pain and suffering of cancer through research, prevention, patient services, and advocacy.
To learn more or donate visit www.cattlebaronsballokc.org. For more information, please contact Rachel Stratton at 281-352-6471. Engage with @ACSOklahoma and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

https://www.belmontcove.com/

by Greg Schwem

“Do you mind if I touch you?” I asked my wife one evening after dinner.
“Not at all,” she replied with a soft giggle.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” But the giggle had disappeared.
“There will be no negative ramifications or consequences if I place my hand anywhere on your body?” I asked, extending my hand toward her waist.
She slapped it away. “WHAT is going on?”
I recounted the story that played out on a recent business trip to New Orleans. After saying goodbye to a college friend who happened to be in town, I decided to have a nightcap at one of the dozens of bars dotting Bourbon Street. There was nothing special about the establishment; it featured two levels, the lower containing dozens of patrons in various stages of inebriation. I opted for the top floor.
I found a lone couple sitting at the bar. “Perfect,” I thought. “Maybe a chance to engage in some quiet conversation.” Chatting up strangers at bars is a pastime I sorely missed during quarantine. For starters, I am a standup comedian by trade and some of my best ideas, which later become comedic bits, germinate during bar conversations. Not all comedians write material this way, but it works for me.
More importantly, people in general fascinate me. I talk for a living, but I’m also an excellent listener. To me, there is nothing worse than seeing a bar full of customers engrossed in their phones, oblivious to their surroundings. Everybody has a story to tell if given a chance.
The bartender seemed to be taking an inordinately long time mixing the woman’s drink. I turned to her companion. “What’s she having?”
The bartender replied instead, naming some oddly titled New Orleans drink that I have since forgotten. I do know it wasn’t a Hurricane.
‘Well, it looks amazing,” I said to the man. Placing my hand on top of his shoulder, I added, “I think I’ll have one too. I’ve still got an hour before curfew.”
Without laughing or even smiling, he turned to me.
“Don’t ever touch me again.”
I should note, he added an unprintable word between ‘ever” and “touch.”
Then he took his hand, and not so gently shoved the side of my head. Without bothering to ask me if I liked being touched.
While his companion stared sullenly at her now completed drink, the man got off his stool and began to pace. I didn’t know if he had been overserved, for doing so would have required making eye contact. What if he didn’t like being stared at either?
The bartender, sensing a situation, intervened. Turning to me, he said, “Sir, why don’t you head downstairs?”
I took the hint.
“That sounds horrible,” my wife said. “Did he think you were hitting on him?”
“I put my hand on top of his shoulder. I didn’t try to kiss him,” I said.
“Can’t you just keep your hands off people?” she inquired. “What if he had a gun?”
How sad, I thought, that a simple gesture of friendship or inquisitiveness could end with gun violence.
“I won’t be touching anybody’s possessions either,” I said.
“Why not?”
Two days after returning from New Orleans, I was sitting in a traffic jam while heading to Chicago for a meeting. The Honda CRV, creeping in front of me, contained a decal to the left of its license tag stating, “Don’t Touch My Car.”
What frightened me wasn’t the command but the two-stick figure artwork accompanying it. One figure was crouched on its knees, its head being held down by the second figure, whose free hand contained an upraised stick. The message? Touch this particular Honda and get beaten over the head. Maybe it was the owner’s way of saying, “No Tailgating.” Or maybe the owner just returned from New Orleans. Regardless, I changed lanes.
I pondered the fact that I now fear the consequences of exhibiting a friendly gesture or inadvertently bumping a cheap vehicle. Our nation’s anger is manifesting itself in strange ways, in strange locations. Now, two years after quarantine forced everybody inside, I’m still not comfortable venturing outside, for who knows? I too might become angry at the slightest provocation.
I guess I’ll just stay indoors and watch TV. Oh, look, another Jan. 6 committee hearing is about to get underway.
(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 Ron Hendricks, Hearing Loss Association of America Central Oklahoma Chapter

Hearing Loss Association of America Central Oklahoma Chapter (HLAA COC) is not all serious stuff. We have fun too. Our summer bingo party brought out a large crown for Bingo, Prizes and Pizza and August is cold. At least the ice cream at the Annual Ice Cream Social is cold. The social is the traditional kick-off of the new season of monthly Educational Seminars held by HLAA COC. Seminars have speakers of interest to the hearing loss community – subjects like technology, research, training, tips & tricks. All helpful to those with hearing loss and those who love ‘em. Speakers/programs for the fall include Shelley Gladden, Oklahoma Able Tech discussing technology, October we host Dr. Sarah Newman delving into research being done by Hearts for Hearing. In November Dr. Kopke with the Hough Ear Institute will talk about their research in hair regrowth that will possibly restore hearing. December, ‘ya-all come for the annual Christmas Party. The Ice Cream Social is also the time when we introduce the scholarship winners who are; Boyd Robertson, Josie Burns, Charles Brady IV.
HLAA COC’s educational seminars are captioned so you can see the conversation as well as hear it. Now there is also a hearing loop system to be used with the telecoil in your hearing aid AND we zoom the meeting too. Seminars are held monthly on the third Thursday, 11:30-1PM. The public is invited as there is no entry fee.
We have a lot of activities but our main mission here is to “Open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support, and advocacy.” for more information visit our website, www.OklahomaHearingLoss.org.

Mercy has earned the 2022 Excellence in Patient Experience Award as the top large health system in the country for patient experience, a distinction made by NRC Health, a leader in building personalized health care solutions and data-driven insights.
NRC Health’s 2022 Excellence in Patient Experience Award recognizes health systems and hospitals that have demonstrated their commitment to improving patients’ care experiences.
“This award is all about the patient experience and that is central to everything we do,” said Dr. John Mohart, president of Mercy communities, who leads operations for all Mercy hospitals. “Our medical team always puts health and safety first, but the patient experience goes far beyond clinical care. Whether it’s our food service team, housekeepers or volunteers, it takes every Mercy co-worker to make patients a priority and give them the best experience possible.”
Award winners are selected based on the real-time “would recommend” ratings from patients. One winner is honored in each of the following eight categories of facilities: small, medium and large health systems; small, medium and large hospitals; pediatric facilities; and medical groups. Mercy was selected as the top large health system based on patient feedback collected from April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is incredibly gratifying to be able to honor another esteemed group of organizations this year who deliver exceptional patient care day in and day out,” said Helen Hrdy, chief growth officer at NRC Health. “Human understanding is at the core of what we do, and to see it come to life is rewarding beyond words. Congratulations to Mercy for this recognition. Their work is inspiring!”
A complete list of winners is available at nrchealth.com/awards/excellence-in-patient-experience-award/. The NRC award follows the recently announced collaboration between Mercy and Mayo Clinic to transform patient care and find diseases earlier and the recently announced availability of an innovative blood test at Mercy to detect more than 50 types of cancer in early stages.
“This honor from NRC Health means every aspect of a patient’s care at Mercy is important, beginning when they schedule an appointment and through the follow-up care long after the clinic, virtual or hospital visit,” said Dr. Jeff Ciaramita, Mercy’s chief physician executive.

As of the end of the day, Friday, August 12, 2022, OU Health and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) have come to a resolution. The two organizations had been negotiating their contract since November of 2021.
The agreement between OU Health and UHC for hospital and clinic facilities and services terminated on May 1, 2022, but have now been reinstated. UHC has agreed to retroactively process the out-of-network claims that would now be considered in-network. OU Health Partners, the health system’s physician and provider group, was under a separate contract, which was in effect through the end of 2022. Under the new agreement, the provider’s contract was extended through July 31, 2024. OU Health and UHC also agreed to re-engage transplant services to the same level as prior to May 1, 2022.
“With so many of our services not available anywhere else in the state, we are so pleased to be able to continue to care for our UHC-insured patients, so they can continue to receive services like cancer treatment or comprehensive children’s care,” said Richard Lofgren, M.D., OU Health president and CEO.
“Throughout this time, our focus and commitment to patient care and being an institution that champions the health of our state hasn’t changed,” Lofgren said. “We are extremely pleased to be able to reinstate and continue our partnership with UHC, and together, we will make a difference in the lives of Oklahomans.”