January 20, 2021 Show

Anthony Hitch 

A quick glance might leave you with the impression some people are gliding through the pandemic essentially untouched. They are working from home so they are safe, and they appear to be encountering little financial stress. But despite the fact they are privileged in some regards, they still might be feeling disconnected as they miss the gentle hugs or friendly handshakes that were once part of their normal routines. And aware of that fact, Anthony Hitch hopes to help them overcome these negative sentiments by incorporating a carefully blended mix of modalities into the sessions he shares with clients.

As he explains it: these meetings offer “massage and energy work fused seamlessly into a powerful, sensual, hypnotic flow with an emphasis on Myofascial Release, Craniosacral techniques, and Yoga positions/ breathing techniques.” An active Usui/Tibeten Reiki practitioner since 2013, he remains impressed by its potential to guide people towards more peaceful states. The website for Anthony’s Ohio-based practice is https://sacredashbodywork.wordpress.com 

 

Megan Hustings

You might imagine that people who are homeless during the pandemic are at high risk of getting the virus because they lack the facilities to practice good hygiene and enjoy little personal space. But the facts do not necessarily support that assumption. Infection rates among that population are lower than anybody might suspect. For example, across the bay from San Francisco, the Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless, across the Bay from San Francisco. Of the 3,200 coronavirus tests that the organization has conducted in Oakland, only 2.9 percent were positive. Yet, their lack of shelter and lack of proper medical care places the homeless at increased risk of other diseases. And their numbers are growing.

Megan Hustings serves as the Interim Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, and she is working to keep this group as safe as its difficult circumstances will allow. The organization’s web site is http://www.nationalhomeless.org 

January 6, 2021 Show

Michael Unger

Although you might generally be quite active, the pandemic might have turned you into more of a couch potato than you ever imagined anything could. That lack of movement could have resulted in climbing steps or maneuvering through uneven pavements becoming a challenge for you.  

So, you know that you must do something to get yourself back into shape. But several roadblocks are standing in your way of achieving that objective. Due to ongoing pandemic restrictions the gyms are closed. And exercising has never been easy for you; it might even bring back hurtful memories of your being chosen last for sports teams.    

That is where Michael Ungar might prove helpful. Working with clients in their homes or virtually, he helps them prevent falls by improving their balance and strengthening their muscles. He is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) -certified Personal Trainer. His web site is http://athomeseniorfitness.net 

December 16, 2020 Show

The pandemic transformed our lives at breakneck speed. We were going about our business as normal. And then what seemed to be only minutes later we were tossed into a world that bore an eerie resemblance to “The Twilight Zone.”

Hemp oil or CBD also entered our world at an amazingly swift pace. Just a few short years ago people were struggling to pronounce its scientific name “canabiodol,” and now they are maintaining that it can help ease us through our ongoing medical crisis by keeping us calm. Are the claims that some people are making for this substance valid or they more of a hype than anything else? That question cannot presently be answered with any degree of certainty. But Cass Ingram should be able to clear up some of this confusion.

He has since written over 20 books on natural healing, including his latest, The Canabis Cure.” A popular media personality, he has appeared on over 5,000 radio and TV shows. His web site is https://cassingram.com 
 

Marcia Flesner

Statistics published earlier this year concluded that nursing home residents accounted for almost half of all pandemic deaths in the United States. Those findings are hardly surprising considering as these individuals are fragile medically and tend to enjoy limited personal space. But can anything be done at this point that would ensure their well-being on a medical level without harming them on a psychological level as might isolating them?  

There are no easy answers to these questions. But relying upon data collected over 40 years, researchers at the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing, have determined that keeping and retaining staff members who work long term in homes can make them more equipped to benefit residents even during crises. 

Marcia Flesner has since retired but she worked as the project coordinator for this ongoing research. 

December 2, 2020 Show

These days people are asking hard questions when it comes to the public schools: Can students safely attend traditional class sessions during the pandemic? If the schools are opened and are then forced to close shortly thereafter could the ensuing confusion harm children? If they learn on line are students really gaining as much as might be desired from their lessons? Are the schools so preoccupied with protecting students and staff members from the virus that educating students is not receiving the attention it merits?

Possibly, your answer to one or all of those questions is a resounding “yes.” But that does not necessarily mean that home schooling is an acceptable alternative to the public educational system? Although there are no easy answers to that question, Elena LaVictoire who has home schooled her children and grandchildren for years does have some intriguing responses.

Vanessa Tennyson

The founder & CEO of Capitalize Your Humanity, Vanessa Tennyson does not assume a one size fits all approach when she provides her clients with Leadership Coaching. Rather, building upon her decades of experience in the business world, she encourages her clients to evolve their own unique managerial style.

This growth process often involves their taking psychological inventories, such as the the Neethling Brain Instruments (NBI). This tool helps clients determine if they are a realist/analyst, strategist/ imaginer, preserver/ organizer, socializer/ empathizer or a unique combination of all these mind sets, knowledge that can prove essential as they develop effective management styles.

Vanessa maintains that: “A professional coach is skilled in the art of asking insightful and explorative questions to flush out the understanding within, so the coach can help to move you from where you are to where you want to be.”

Her organization’s web site is http://www.capitalizeyourhumanity.com 

November 18, 2020 Show

Kenn Israel

Your doctor has prescribed medication to bring down your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol or help you regulate your weight. And you understand the importance of keeping these numbers under control. But you went online and encountered a long list of side effects you might experience if you took this medication as prescribed. They sound gruesome at any point in time but they are particularly scary while the pandemic is racing through our country. Could they compromise your immune system and make you vulnerable to serious pandemic complications? 

So, you look to wellness products as an alternative, and you are intrigued by the fact they have no listed side effects. You cannot help wondering, however, if the promises they make are too good to be true. There are no easy answers to that question. But Kenn Israel who has been decades of experience with  these supplements should supply some helpful responses. His web site is http://www.kennisrael.com 

Brian Anderson

Heights’ shopping strips are not only appealing in their uniqueness. They are also showing great resilience as they work to survive hard times in the form of a pandemic. Restaurants in that inner ring suburb, which has a population of 46,000, have served meals on socially distanced patios or offered take outs. Some entrepreneurs have established pop ups in anticipation of a busy holiday season. While others have increased their footprint on Social Media or worked to make customers feel safe by following strict COVID regulations. 
 

And the city has worked to make certain that their hard efforts will meet with success. Among other things, it has foregone parking fees and distributed CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) funds to qualifying merchants.  

Brian Anderson serves as that city’s business development manager. The city’s web site is http://www.clevelandheights.com 

November 4, 2020 Show

Ben Turshen

Ben Turshen’s work as a corporate lawyer in New York City challenged him on many levels. But a few years back he began realizing that he had to make some lifestyle changes as his usual methods of managing his emotional turmoil – exercise, therapy, and medication - were no longer keeping him centered.

So, at his therapist suggestion, he tried meditation. And It had such an immediate positive effect on him that he left his high-pressure job behind and opened a New York studio that eventually began attracting Olympic athletes and Fortune 500 executives.

This brief account of Ben ‘s adventures recall some intriguing questions. Can meditation be even more beneficial to everybody these days than was ever previously the case? Can it bring people the calm and serenity that the pandemic has made outdated for most people?

Ben ‘s web site is http://www.benturshenmeditation.com
 

Dan Barker once served as an evangelical minister with a bent towards the musical and dramatic. However, during 1984, his life changed, He broke with precedent as he announced that he had become an atheist. And he revealed his break with the past in an extremely public way – on AM Chicago which was then hosted by Oprah Winfrey. He subsequently went on to work as the co-president of the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which promotes the separation of church and state. And he also co-hosts Freethought Radio, which is broadcasted nationally over several different stations and has welcomed luminaries, such as Steven Pinker and Richard Dawkins, as guests.

His strong efforts, however, bring an essential question into play. Has the pandemic and the Presidential campaigns pushed the issues that this foundation so far into the background that his group’s effort to publicize them serves little purpose?

The foundation’s web site is http://www.ffrf.org .

 

October 21, 2020 Show

Paul Malley

Aging with Dignity has remained committed to the same motto since it was first formed during 1996: affirm and safeguard the human dignity of individuals as they age and promote better end of life care. And as it has worked to carry out its mission, this Florida-based organization has created and distributed an estimated 20 million copies of Five Wishes. Valid in most states, this document includes all the instructions and information that you might need to create a legally enforceable advance directive. As part of its advocacy efforts, Aging With Dignity has also established a hot line (1-888-594-7437) that provides callers with guidance as regards their advance care planning. 

Stories about its efforts have been broadcasted over ABC, CBS and NBC, CNN, MSNBC, the Today Show, Good Morning America and published in USA Today. This organization’s web site is http://www.agingwithdignity.org . Paul Malley serves as its president.  

October 7, 2020 Show

Eric Anderson

Some students bike to their classes at the Sherbrooke Community Center, while others are car pooled or driven there by their parents. No matter what their specific mode of transportation, however, they attend school in an unusual setting for elementary-aged youngsters – a care home for the elderly and those who have special needs. And this arrangement- the iGen program - allows them to participate in some unique educational opportunities as they interact regularly with people from other generations and backgrounds.  

The Saskatchewan-based Sherbrooke prides itself upon the fact that residents are housed in structures designed to be more residential than institutional, making it possible for them to live as normal a life as possible. In addition to the almost 300 people who make Sherbrooke their homes hundreds of others take part in its Community Day Programs. The web site for the center is www.sherbrookecommunitycentre.ca   . Eric Anderson serves as its Communications Leader. 

Decades ago, it was the norm for elders to live in a cottage next to their family’s main house as they aged. This arrangement had some decided advantages: it allowed seniors to retain their privacy while also having ready access to the support of family members. And because he admired the way it made it possible for loved ones to care for one another, Ed Guion wanted to bring this arrangement up to date and market it.

At between $44,960 and $60,440.00, the model he evolved is quite affordable, particularly when compared to the expense of retirement communities. And it has garnered considerable attention, being featured on the NBC Nightly News and the Today Show plus the AARP’s Modern Maturity Magazine. However, zoning regulations and other factors prevent it from becoming a viable option for every family and the pandemic might complicate its use.

The web site for Elder Cottages is http://www.eldercottages.com

September 16, 2020 Show

When we are tired after a long day at work or just feeling a little lazy, we might wish that we had a genii-like creature that would perform unappealing tasks for us. It might, for example, wash the dishes or bring our medicine to the table. Well, now there is a machine – a robot in common parlance – who could pamper us on demand in much the same way our imaginary genii might. His name is RUDY and he is the brainchild of the Virginia-based INF Robotics.

Adaptable, RUDY can protect seniors who are aging at home or in care facilities, as it transmits information that can prevent/ detect falls plus also offers touch-free emergency response. And no matter where it might be performing its good deeds, it can facilitate telemedicine and always flashes a broad smile.

Anthony Nunez is the founder of INF Robotics; its web site is http://www.infrobotics.com  .

Susan Kurowski

Research shows that loneliness - not cancer or heart disease – is the most serious threat the elderly face. But that does not mean seniors have to fall prey to this malady; there is a simple cure for it that does not even involve medical intervention: pets. And keeping this fact in mind, the Pets for the Elderly Foundation helps pay the fees to participating animal shelters throughout the United States for senior citizens (age 60 and over) who adopt a companion dog or cat.

The program which began during 1992 with the participation of two Ohio-based shelters began branching out nationally during 2002. Over the years this foundation has successfully placed more than 100,000 animals with adopter seniors and it hopes to eventually involve several shelters in each of the 50 states.

Susan Kurowski has been Executive Director of the Pets for the Elderly Foundation since January of 2009.The foundation’s web site is http://www.petsfortheelderly.org
 

September 2, 2020 Show

Pegi Robinson

People usually envision near death experiences as being events during which somebody is catapulted down a long tube into another realm and is returned to the earthly realm soon thereafter. By most accountings, a heart attack, stroke, or any other trauma might lead to somebody having a NDE. However, the pandemic might have changed that dynamic as it has changed so much else in our lives. Might a NDE be triggered by a bout with COVID-19 that ends somebody up in intensive care fighting for their next breath?  

There no easy answers to that question and there probably never will be. However, Pegi Robinson should have some responses worth considering. She heads up the Mid Ohio Valley chapter of the International Association for Near Death Studies. This North Carolina-based organization is working to increase awareness of NDE and the impact they can have on people. Its web site is http://www.iands.org

Dancing Wheels presents a strong message: performers in wheelchairs – seated dancers- can navigate around the stage with as much panache and dexterity as do dancers who move in more traditional ways.  In fact, their presence can make a performance even more captivating than would otherwise be the case. And it has been pushing that strong point since it was first conceived by Mary Verdi Fletcher during 1980. The company has grown over the years until it currently serves as a training site for students from around the globe.
 

Born with spina bifida, a condition whereby the spine does not properly fuse, she always wanted to be a dancer. Being involved with Dancing Wheels grants her an opportunity to live out her dream while also helping others to evolve their creativity. During 2014, Mary was awarded the Governor’s Award for Arts Education in Ohio. The group’s web site is http://www.dancingwheels.org  

August 19, 2020 Show

Experiencing trouble falling and staying asleep has become a fact of life for virtually everybody during the pandemic. And there are many reasons why people are encountering this frustration. Although we are generally quite active, we are more sedentary now that the economy remains at least partially closed. So, when we slip into bed we are not as exhausted and ready to fall asleep as is usually the case.

The pandemic has removed us from our normal routines – interacting with colleagues, commuting to and from work, going out for the evening. And because our brains are receiving less stimulation, they are keeping us awake at night as they seek input.

Dr. Michael Lewis, a former military physician, acknowledges that all of these factors might make getting a good night’s sleep during the pandemic challenging. But he also maintains that some simple tricks can work to ensure that you get the rest you need. His web site is http://drmichaellewismd.com/

Kristi Horner

During their better moments people who are living with mental illness might appear to be balancing beautifully as they interact with the world around them. Then, just shortly thereafter, they might cause alarm as they start acting erratically for no apparent reason. And that volatility can make nurturing them challenging, particularly during the pandemic when turbulence has become the new norm.

That is why Kristi Horner who formed the Ohio-based Courage to Caregivers is so anxious to reach out to care givers and provide them with valuable support. Currently, this organization is sponsoring virtual support groups, virtual meditation sessions and other offerings designed to help them understand them must look after their own well being. Its motto, - “Put on your own oxygen mask, before helping those around you” - delivers that message in a succinct but forceful manner.

The group’s web site is http://www.couragetocaregivers.org

August 5, 2020 Show

Dr. Steve Webb

As we have been sheltering in our homes, the internet has made us less isolated than would otherwise be the case; it has allowed us to remain in constant contact with family and friends. But while it might be serving a very real purpose as it eases us through hard times, this technology can also leave us vulnerable to abuses, everything from hacking and identity theft to cyberbullying. 

The latter often involves teens or even younger children. And although it generally begins with in ways that seem harmless enough - unpleasant images – it can quickly escalate into threats or, in extreme cases, into physical violence. How can you, as a parent, make sure your child does not fall victim to cyberbullying? Or, for that matter how can you make certain your child does not instigate this harassment? 

Dr. Steven Webb, author of the Amazon best-selling book Education in a Violent World can provide some helpful responses to these questions. His web site is http://www.safeschoolsystems.org 

Kyle Woody

Being a caregiver for somebody with cancer can prove stressful under even the very best of circumstances. However, it is likely to become downright grueling during the pandemic as you are expected to constantly answer questions that forward no easy responses: Is it safe for somebody to venture out the house when treatments they are receiving have left them immunosuppressed, vulnerable to COV-19? Can surgery be safely delayed as the virus forces us to follow its time table not medical advice? If you need a short reprieve from your care giving responsibilities is it safe to have somebody come into your homes and spell you?

There are no easy answers to these questions. But Kyle Woody, which supports caregivers can provide us with some meaningful insights. He is the founder of Jack’s Caregiver Coalition which supports men who are nurturing a loved one. This organization’s web site is https://www.jackscaregiverco.org/

Jack's Caregiver Coalition - Home  Our guy only program events are on a mission to make you wiser, more intriguing, and maybe even harder to kill.  www.jackscaregiverco.org 

July 15, 2020 Show

Topher Wurts

As the word “spectrum” implies, individuals who have been diagnosed as belonging to the autism spectrum come in a wide range of different shapes, sizes and personality types. However, many of them do share one thing in common. They can easily be over stimulated by sights or sounds that might not necessarily disturb most other people. And that is why an app – Autism Village - that guides them to places where they will feel comfortable is so essential to them. But is this app serving any real purpose when many of the establishments it lists are closed or only open on a partial basis? And how are folks who are on the spectrum dealing with the uncertainty that the virus has brought our way?
Topher Wurts who conceived the concept that became Autism Village can help to answer some of these questions.

The web site for Autism Village is http://www.autismvillage.com  .
 

The Listening Circle,

The pandemic has, in many ways, separated us from the interpersonal communications that enrich our lives. So, we are searching for means by which we can keep ourselves connected with others. And deep listening is presenting itself as a way to accomplish this objective. It involves giving full attention to what is being said without trying to control or judge it; we practice putting our assumptions to the side to make room for curiosity and care for what really matters to other people. In a time of political unrest and uncertainty in our work and family lives, we will certainly encounter people with experiences and needs that are different from ours. By making ourselves vulnerable, we open ourselves up to a shared vitality which much of our modern world has trivialized.

Argerie Vasilakes, who has long worked as an organization development consultant, has spearheaded a Zoom series – The Listening Circle – that re-acquaints people with deep listening. Each 90-minute Listening Circle is limited to 12 people, but anybody can register at this link -- https://tinyurl.com/ybjf4rd7  Learn more about deep listening and other ways of authentic connecting with colleagues, family and strangers at www.BizUnusual.org  and on Facebook @SpaceBetweenTeam.

July 1, 2020 Show

The McDowell Wellness Center offers everything you might expect a wellness center to offer – group exercise classes, weight lifting equipment, cardio machines and a six lane indoor pool. However, it provides much more than these basics. The minute they join, they automatically become eligible for an individual health assessment, free sessions with a personal trainer plus counseling from a nutritionist.

These days, however, as is the case with similar facilities located throughout the country – throughout the world actually – it has reopened with strict safety precautions being mandated. How are members reacting to these regulations being put into place? Has Danville, Kentucky, where the center is located, been impacted by the virus in ways that will leave their mark long after the pandemic is no longer raging?

Bryan Lanham who has worked as a personal trainer at the center and has also led a class called People with Arthritis can Exercise can answer some of these questions.
The center’s web site is https://www.mcdowellwellness.com/
 

June 17, 2020 Show

The pandemic transformed our lives at breakneck speed. We were going about our business as normal. And then what seemed to be only minutes later we were tossed into a world that bore an eerie resemblance to “The Twilight Zone.”

Hemp oil or CBD also entered our world at an amazingly swift pace. Just a few short years ago people were struggling to pronounce its scientific name “canabiodol,” and now they are maintaining that it can help ease us through our ongoing medical crisis by keeping us calm. Are the claims that some people are making for this substance valid or they more of a hype than anything else? That question cannot presently be answered with any degree of certainty. But Cass Ingram should be able to clear up some of this confusion.

He has since written over 20 books on natural healing, including his latest, The Canabis Cure.” A popular media personality, he has appeared on over 5,000 radio and TV shows. His web site is https://cassingram.com 
 

Dr. Thelma Reese

When future generations talk about our ongoing health emergency, they will no doubt mention the bravery of first responders, medical personnel and others who saved lives. However, some astute individuals might ask hard question that go beyond these facile impressions.

Throughout the pandemic we have all been warned that anybody over 60 could more easily fall victim to the virus’ ravages than could younger individuals. Were these warnings based upon solid medical data or were they an indication that ageism – the negative stereotyping of the elderly – was coming into play? Did they fail to take into account the resilience many senior’s display?

They do not claim to know the answer to that riddle. But as they wrote “How Seniors are Saving the World: Retirement Activists to the Rescue” BJ Kittredge, a health editor and Dr. Thelma Reese, who blogs at http://www.elderchicks.com, were determined to present their generation in a more positive light than is often the case.

June 3, 2020 Show

Jordan Levine

The pandemic has brought stress into all of our lives as it creates vast amounts of uncertainty. And restaurant owners and employees are no exception to that general rule; they grapple with some hard questions. Will health precautions that limit the number of people who can eat in an establishment totally decimate its revenue beyond repair? How will patrons respond to having their temperature taken before they even enter a restaurant? How can workers be kept safe as they prepare meals in kitchens that by anybody’s estimate are less than spacious?

Jordan Levine, general manager for the Ohio-based Edwins Restaurant and Leadership Institute, which currently runs a bakery, restaurant and a butcher shop, does not have answers to these questions. Nobody does at this point. But he does have responses worth considering. Edwins hires and subsequently trains ex-convicts, preparing them for careers in the hospitality industry. The institute’s web site is http://www.edwinsrestaurant.org
 

Christopher Cook

Since the pandemic has closed schools, many students have been facing considerable stress as they are separated from a support system that has long buttressed them. And one particular group of students might be feeling these pressures even more acutely than are others. They are participants in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District’s Alternative to Expulsion Program.

These young people exhibited behavior that would have resulted in their being expelled if this second chance effort that guides towards eventually graduating with their class had not been established. Can the personal contact between students and teachers that has proved so essential to these students’ success remain ongoing when they are not meeting face to face? Can students succeed even though the pandemic might be working a real financial hardship on their families? Christopher Cook who heads this program can provide us with some responses to these quandaries.

May 20, 2020 Show

Being a family caregiver is almost by definition stressful as it involves nurturing vulnerable individuals on a daily basis. However, that role becomes particularly challenging when it is being handled by a teen who is also facing the normal coming of age pressures. And these days the ongoing health crisis is making matters all the more difficult for these individuals as it separates them from their schools and other support systems.

That is where the Florida-based American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is stepping in to help them cope with their difficult circumstances. This organization takes pride, among other things, in the fact that 90% of the young people it mentors end up graduating from high school. And it has been in the forefront of using tele-health to continue individual counseling and introduce new strategies for managing stress.

Dr. Connie Siskowski is the founder and president of this Florida-based association. Its web site is http://www.aacy.org  

The Illinois-based Memory Farm serves as a place where the participants, many of whom are living with Alzheimer’s, can gain self confidence plus a sense of purpose by staying physically, cognitively and socially active. And it carefully tailors activities so that they provide participants with the best possible benefits, something the fact it has both indoor and outdoor facilities makes it uniquely qualified to do. However, that is only one part of what is designed to accomplish. It is also committed to supporting the individuals who are care partners for the participants. Among other things it provides them with activity such as yoga, animal therapy and gardening.

Johanna Jameson was instrumental in forming the Memory Farm and currently serves as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She holds a BA in Marketing from Columbia College and an MA in Counseling and Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

The farm’s web site is http://www.memoryfarmllc.com 

May 6, 202 Show

Stuart Tomc

Virtually all experts maintain that social distancing remains the most effective tool that our country has in its arsenal to fight the virus. Mental health experts warn, however, that strictly limiting human contact can have a strongly negative impact upon virtually anybody. And these challenges are exacerbated by the pressures that we are all facing as the medical crisis places uncertainties into our lives. Nobody knows for a fact when it will end and what form the new normal we will meet will when happens might assume.

However, according to Stuart Tomc, a national spokesperson for the California-based CV Sciences, makers of PlusCBD Oil there are commonsensical methods that can help us better manage our anxieties. And eating a health-giving diet is high on that list. Stuart suggests among other things complex carbs, such as brown rice, and omega-3 rich foods plus beef.

CV Sciences web site is http://www.cvsciences.com

Jill Cohen

Greif has generally interpreted as being a very personal emotion that somebody feels after a loved one has passed. These days, however, it has taken on a much less personal but no less strongly felt meaning. We are all feeling a sense of grief as we realize that our world is being transformed by the virus and do not know what form it will assume when the pandemic eases. And the fact that many of us are spending our days at home – possibly without that much outside contact – is providing these negative feelings with ample opportunity to flourish.

And that is why the support that Jill Cohen, a New York City-based grief counselor can prove extremely valuable as our country works its way through this crisis. For well over a decade, she has helped both children and adults who are grieving to understand that they are not alone and support is available.

Grief Counseling | New York City | Jill Cohen grief counselor NYC area   

BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA