healthy aging: september 2015

HealtH CoaCHesto the rescue

do volunteers live longer?

‘broadway’ boogie

a PubliCation from monmouth medical center, southern campus

stay safein tHe sun

HEALTHY aGINGseptember 2015

How To

eat healthy

MSN.JUL15.newsletter9.indd 1 8/20/15 9:20 AM

Even the most social individuals prefer privacy in the hospi-

tal. And soon all of the rooms at Monmouth Medical Center,

Southern Campus, will be private, making it the only hospital

in the region to offer all private rooms for overnight stays.

The new 54 Medical/Surgical and 10 Critical Care Unit

rooms are expected to be ready for occupancy soon. Amenities

will include fat-screen TVs, an updated nurse call system and

special features for geriatric patients, including brighter light-

ing, safer beds and more security.

“Private rooms reduce the risk of transmission of infec-

tions,” says Kelly Zabriskie, director of infection control and

risk management at the medical center. Indeed, studies have

suggested that being in private rooms benefts patients in

several ways.

“Private patient rooms are proven to aid patients in the

healing process by giving them private space to recover,”

adds Michael Mimoso, MHSA, FACHE, president and CEO.

When patients feel they lack privacy or when they’re exposed

to noise and crowding, it can increase their stress level. In

particular, excess noise can lead to increased anxiety and

pain perception.

Patients report higher satisfaction rates when cared for

in a private room. “There was a noticeable spike in our

patient experience ratings when we ran a pilot program that

put patients in private rooms,” says Judy Colorado, R.N., chief

operating offcer and chief nursing offcer. “And the staff

loves private rooms—they only have to care for one patient

at a time.”

The private rooms are the second step in a three-phase

renovation project at the medical center. A main lobby face-

lift was completed earlier this year, and the fnal phase of the

plan—renovating the grounds, parking, lobby area and en-

trance to Outpatient Services on Route 9—is under way. The

hospital also has updated its equipment, adding round-the-

clock telemetry monitoring for all of its inpatient beds.

WElcomE lEttEr

Welcome to the newest issue of

our Healthy Aging newsletter.

It’s no secret that health care

is changing, and every day,

so are lives across the region.

We’re changing, too, to ensure

we remain focused on providing

high-quality patient care and

meeting the needs of the region’s older adults.

One of the most visible displays of our com-

mitment to patient care is our three-phase

renovation project. In this issue, you’ll read more

about the unveiling of our newly renovated, pri-

vate rooms. Expected to be ready for occupancy

soon, this transition means Monmouth Medi-

cal Center, Southern Campus (MMCSC) will be

the only hospital in the region to offer all private

rooms for overnight stays.

You’ll also read about the people who make

a difference in the hospital and outside of our

walls every day—from two remarkable physi-

cians and a dedicated member of the MMCSC

Foundation Board, all of whom were recognized

as this year’s outstanding humanitarians, to

our busy health coaches helping keep seniors

healthy so they can stay out of the hospital, to a

long-time volunteer who is reaping the benefts

of giving back.

We’ve also highlighted a “grandfamily” much

like some of yours to shine a light on a special

support group for the many grandparents who

step in as caregivers for their grandchildren. As

always, you’ll fnd information important to your

health and well-being, such as the dangers of

mixing medications and the sun and top tips for

seniors to maintain a healthy diet.

I hope you fnd this issue of Healthy Aging

interesting and informative. I look forward to

hearing more of your feedback and hope you

continue sharing thoughts on the programs that

mean the most to you.

Best wishes for a healthy and safe fall season!

Sincerely,

Jessica l. Israel, m.D.

Section Chief of Geriatrics and Palliative Care

Monmouth Medical Center

2

prIvatE rooms on thE rIsEInItIatIve Is part of a larger

commItment to patIent care.

This artist’s rendering

shows what the new

private rooms at

Monmouth Medical

Center’s Southern

Campus will look like.


Like more and more grandpar-

ents these days, Herb and

Julian Bellamy, a retired Lake-

wood couple, have taken over

care for their grandchildren—

14-year-old twin granddaugh-

ters and a 5-year-old grandson.

The family has been helped in

numerous ways by Monmouth

Medical Center Southern Cam-

pus’ Grandparents Raising

Grandchildren Support Group.

Recently, in fact, that group

went above and beyond its usual

call of duty.

The twins, Meisha and Alisha,

were assaulted in school and no lon-

ger felt safe there. “They are talented

and bright, but they live in challeng-

ing circumstances,” says Kathleen

Holahan, coordinator of the support

group. “These are tough girls who

can take care of themselves, but one

ended up in the emergency room af-

ter she was thrown to the foor in

gym class.”

Immediately, the support group

began searching for another school

for the twins and approached Sisters

Academy in Asbury Park. The school is

dedicated to providing a quality educa-

tion to girls from urban environments

in grades fve through eight, but it typi-

cally doesn’t accept eighth graders.

However, after meeting with Meisha

and Alisha, Sisters Academy not only

accepted them, it offered a generous

scholarship, which was supplemented

by an anonymous Barnabas Health em-

ployee to fund their entire tuition.

At Sisters Academy, the twins

thrived—so much so that they ap-

plied to Red Bank Catholic High

School. “These girls were very well

prepared,” says Holahan. “They

had all of their paperwork done.

They had a lot of questions for the

school—very adult questions—and

I was just amazed by them. The

school was too.” So amazed, in fact,

that Red Bank awarded Meisha and

Alisha a full scholarship to start

there in the fall.

The grandparents support group,

which began in 2009, has evolved

over time, according to Holahan. “It

started as just a support group, but

as the kids get older, the issues be-

come larger and the amount we do

is larger.” The Bellamy family has

participated in the group from its

start, and Holahan is thrilled to see

the twins do so well. “These kids are

extraordinary, and the way that every-

thing fell into place is extraordinary,”

she says. “It’s onward and upward for

them now. This is what happens when

a village comes together to help.”

Grandparents raisinG

Grandchildren

support Group

At the free weekly meetings spon-

sored by Monmouth Medical

Center’s Southern Campus, partici-

pants learn from and share with

others facing the challenges of be-

ing a “grandfamily.” The group

meets at the Center for Healthy

Living, 198 Prospect St., Lakewood,

every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m.

to 12:30 p.m.

For more information, please

contact Kathleen Holahan or Janis

Marler at 732.730.9112.

3

Support for ‘GRAndFAMILIeS’Weekly group

meetings

help a lakeWood

couple navigate

the challenges

of parenting

their grandkids.


There’s no such thing as a typical day for Kelly DeLeon

and Peggy Lomerson, health coaches at Monmouth

Medical Center, Southern Campus. But they’re always

busy with some activity that involves educating seniors,

providing advice and immersing themselves in the

community.

For the past three-plus years, the pair have been out

in the Ocean County community, giving lectures at li-

braries, providing free screenings at senior centers and

offering other services, reaching roughly 4,000 people a

year. Sometimes they are accompanied by a physician or

a nurse, but many times they go on their own, individu-

ally or together, depending on their schedule and the

numbers of people at the venue. Either way, says Lo-

merson, “we work together to get it done.”

Their audiences may consist of hundreds of people, or

just two. The people they see are active 55+-year-olds

who typically still live at home. Topics for the health

coaches’ lectures vary and include things like how to

avoid falling, how to spot warning signs of conditions

such as diabetes and heart disease and what women

should know about the danger to their bones from os-

teoporosis.

The health coaches’ main service is education, and

their goal, as DeLeon says, “is to help keep seniors

healthy so they can stay out of the hospital.” To that

end, DeLeon and Lomerson provide a wide range of

nonclinical services. For example, they help seniors

schedule appointments, help arrange their transporta-

tion to treatment, help determine what their insurance

covers and who is “in network,” and answer questions

like “Where can I get an MRI?”

It takes special individuals to sift and sort through

people’s medical and sometimes personal issues to

get them to the right place and people they need. “I

never have a boring day,” says Lomerson. She worked

previously as a case manager assisting patients re-

cently discharged from psychiatric hospitals. Now she’s

thrilled to be

helping seniors.

“I adore se-

niors,” she says.

“They’re like

living history.

They’ve seen

things I will

never see.”

Prior to be-

coming a health

coach, DeLeon

was an elementa-

ry school teacher.

She has gone

from working

with kids to ad-

vising seniors.

She has also

made several

trips to earth-

quake-ravaged

Haiti to volun-

teer her services

working with

children there.

As for the role

she now plays as

a health coach helping the community’s seniors, she says,

“I thrive on working with people.”

DeLeon says she enjoys bumping into people in the

supermarket who have attended her programs and stop

to thank her for her advice. Such encounters are more

evidence of what is already clear: The health coaches

have made an impact on the community, touching in-

dividuals and improving their lives. “We even have

‘groupies’—some of the same people who follow us from

place to place,” DeLeon reports with a smile.

4

‘health coaches’ FOR A WINNINg TEAM This dynamic duo works Tirelessly To help

ocean counTy seniors sTay healThy.

Peggy Lomerson

Kelly DeLeon


It began with gratitude. When Annemarie Gilman’s

2½-year-old son suffered an eye injury that could have

permanently damaged his eyesight, she took him for

treatment to Kimball Medical Center (now Monmouth

Medical Center, Southern Campus), and under the care

of its clinicians he fully recovered.

“I was very, very grateful to the hospital, and I

started volunteering then in the maternity ward,” she

recalls. That was in 1967.

It’s not quite accurate to say Gilman is nearing the

half-century mark as a volunteer, because her work

eventually led to a full-time job at the medical center,

and the skills she thereby acquired helped to prepare

her for her next position—as executive director of a

Swiss social service agency. (She is Swiss-born.) She

took a break from the medical center while she had

that demanding job, but upon her retirement seven

years ago Gilman came right back and resumed her

volunteer efforts.

Now Gilman comes in about two days a week and

handles duties ranging from filling water pitchers to up-

dating databases in Excel to performing general office

duties to wheeling patients or their guests to their des-

tinations. Like many who donate their time and effort,

she fills in as needed, doing pretty much anything, any-

where in the medical center. In her spare time at home,

she’s also one of several volunteers who knit lap robes

for patients.

Besides being a volunteer, a staffer and the mother of

a patient, Gilman has been a patient at the medical cen-

ter herself. “Years ago I had a bone-marrow puncture,”

she recalls. “It was very painful. But the nurse put her

hand on my shoulder during the procedure, and that

meant a lot to me. It was very comforting.”

Volunteering helps patients and busy clinicians, of

course, but it’s also widely reported to be good for the

volunteers, and Gilman gives it a hearty endorsement.

“It keeps me on my toes,” she says. “I have to use my

brain, and it’s physical exercise too. Volunteering makes

me feel appreciated. And the staff is warm, friendly and

upbeat.”

People like Gilman are appreciated, says Donna Salin,

the medical center’s director of Volunteer Resources,

who oversees its roughly 400 volunteers. And they

benefit as well. She remembers one volunteer recently

confiding that “‘I tell people, ‘You’re going to live a lot

longer if you volunteer.’” And while there’s no guaran-

tee of that, Salin adds: “It does tend to be true—you get

older faster if you’re idle at home.”

For some older adults, it’s a way to beat the blues.

“Volunteering brings the focus outward, not inward,”

says Salin. “It’s a cure for boredom.” She adds that for

people who would benefit from having more human

contact, volunteering can be an elixir. “There’s a big so-

cial aspect to it. People who are engaged are healthier

and have a better mental outlook.”

To find out about joining Annemarie Gilman as a

volunteer and becoming part of the Monmouth Medical

Center, Southern Campus, family, please call Donna

Salin at 732.886.4650.

5

A volunteer’s 50 years This busy, TalenTed worker has

long devoTed herself To helping oThers—and she’s benefiTed Too.


6

Trick question:

“Now that you’re a

senior, eating healthy

is just as important

as it was when you

were young. True

or false?”

Answer: False.

It’s actually much

more important!

Don’t be tricked into

believing you can live

on donuts, pizzas, chips,

colas and beer as you may

have at 18. Older adults have

different nutritional needs

and, in terms of the potential

effects of diet on health, they’re

playing for higher stakes.

For one thing, you’ve likely

become less physically active

as you’ve aged, so you

need to take in

few-

er calories to maintain the

same weight. Choosing most-

ly nutrient-dense foods can

give you the good stuff you

need while limiting calories.

Also, age-related changes may

mean you now have greater

diffculty absorbing certain vi-

tamins and minerals—such as

Vitamin B12, which promotes

healthy nerves and red blood

cells, and folate, which helps

ward off anemia. (B12 sourc-

es include meat, fsh, poultry,

eggs and milk; folate is plenti-

ful in fruits and vegetables and

fortifed breakfast cereals.)

Maintaining a healthy diet

and weight can help stave off a

host of conditions common in se-

niors, including heart problems,

diabetes, high blood pressure,

high cholesterol and

constipation. And

though the most nu-

tritious foods may

not rival cream-flled

cupcakes in the imme-

diate “wow” they give

your taste buds, over

the long haul they’ll

make you feel better too,

boosting your energy level and

improving your quality of life.

You probably know what

to avoid—too much sugar or

salt, too many fried foods and

high-fat items (though fatty fsh

are healthy) and too much red

meat. So what should you eat?

The National Institute on Ag-

ing says these foods should be

the foundation of a healthy diet

for older people:

• Raw vegetables, fruits,

dairy products in moderation

and lean sources of protein.

• Foods low in added sugars

and solid fats.

• Foods low in sodium (par-

ticularly important for seniors

with hypertension).

• High-fber foods and

whole grains, such as brown

rice, whole-grain cereals and

whole-wheat bread.

Also, drink plenty of water,

consider a daily multivitamin

tablet (but don’t use it as an ex-

cuse for unbalanced meals!) and

get plenty of calcium. (Good cal-

cium sources include milk, green

beans, broccoli and fsh canned

with bones.)

Make it taste great!

Does healthy eating in your older years mean

putting up with bland, boring meals? No way,

insists Diane Henderiks. This well-known chef

and dietician is one of America’s top healthy

cooking experts. On TV she has appeared on

Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, The

CBS Early Show and Good Day New York, and

she’s been featured in The New York Times

and Shape magazine. Now the Monmouth

University grad is partnering with the Better

Health program at Monmouth Medical Center,

Southern Campus, in a series of initiatives.

Henderiks is making the rounds in Ocean

County, attending social events, giving talks

at senior communities, and otherwise spread-

ing the healthy-eating gospel. For example,

she’ll demonstrate better ways to cook up nu-

tritious meals that your conscience and your

taste buds can agree on.

“Any dish can be revamped to be good for

you,” says Henderiks on her website. “It just

takes a little education and fnesse.

Your keys to eATING RIGHT

Lighten up on saLt, sugar and red meat; go heavy on fiber, water, fruits and veggies, and Lean protein sources.


FOUNDATION FOCUS

7

The Monmouth Medical

Center, Southern Campus

Foundation recently had its an-

nual Humanitarian Gala at Eagle

Oaks Country Club in Farming-

dale. The foundation honored

three individuals for their phi-

lanthropy and leadership within

the hospital community. And

while the work of the medi-

cal center is certainly serious,

the gala itself was…a ball! The

Broadway-themed event includ-

ed live performers and even a

paparazzo.

Honorees Munir Ahmed, M.D.,

Thomas Calabro and James T.

Zipagan, M.D., were fêted for

helping the medical center adapt

to the changing health care

landscape while continuing to

offer outstanding service to the

surrounding community.

Dr. Ahmed is a board-certi-

fed orthopedic surgeon who

has been chief of orthopedics for

both his private practice, Jer-

sey Shore Orthopedics in Toms

River, and Monmouth Medi-

cal Center, Southern Campus.

He is credited with serving ap-

proximately 100,000 patients in

Ocean County, among his other

accomplishments. Calabro has

been on the foundation’s board

since 2005. Owner of Twin City

Jewelers, he played a critical role

in the development of the Geriat-

ric Emergency Medicine Unit. As

emergency medicine physician

and past chair of the Emergen-

cy Department at the Southern

Campus, Dr. Zipagan was re-

sponsible for orchestrating the

development of the Fast Track

Department, which manages mi-

nor emergency cases.

Trio honored at ‘BROADwAy’ BASHAt this AnnuAl gAlA, humAnitAriAns were recognized for leAdership And philAnthropy.

“Gala” moments, from top, left to right: Michael Mimoso, president and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center,

Southern Campus (MMCSC); Thomas Calabro; James Zipagan, M.D.; Munir Ahmed, M.D.; James Maida,

chairman of the Foundation Board; Denice Gaffney, vice president of the MMCSC Foundation. Irene

McNamara, manager of community education and wellness, is greeted by the “paparazzi” as ft the Broad-

way theme. Entertainment included Mama Mia! MMCSC Foundation’s Michelle Ressalei enjoyed “Broadway”

food: a soft pretzel and a famous NYC hot dog. A parade of Lion King characters got guests off their feet.


We all know too much sun exposure can harm the skin. But did you realize that medications you’re taking could interact with sunlight or heat to make you burn more easily?

“Take a moment to read the printed informa-tion you get with your medication,” advises Kim Walsh, director of pharmacy at Barnabas Health Behavioral Health Center. While taking certain medications, you may need to limit sun exposure even more than you normally would.

Some common prescription and over-the-counter medications can trigger an increase in sensitivity to sunlight, known as photosensitiv-ity, explains Henry Leach, a pharmacist at the Behavioral Health Center. Interactions with medications can cause edema (fuid buildup in tissue), heart problems and other issues.

Extra caution may be needed if you’re taking:Antibiotics. “They can give you a wicked

burn—and raise your core body temperature so you feel like a steam engine inside,” says Walsh.

Mood stabilizers. These can help trigger reac-tions such as hives, sunburn and rashes.

Blood-pressure medications. Beta blockers, vasodilators and diuretics often require extra

care in the sun, our experts say. So how should you protect yourself? With

careful use of sunblock, for one thing—and make sure it’s rated with an “SPF” (sun protection fac-tor) of 30 or higher. “Put it on at least 45 minutes to an hour before you go outside,” says Walsh. “And reapply it at least every two hours—more often if you go swimming.”

Wear a hat with a brim to protect your scalp and forehead. And don’t lose track of time. Besides a sunburn, warns Leach, “you could get an electrolyte imbalance from sweating out too much fuid.”

“When you’ve been outside for a while, come in, cool down and drink some water,” suggests Walsh. “Not sports drinks. Not iced tea. Water! If you need a favor, put an orange or a lemon in it.”

Finally, because heat itself can sometimes be an extra hazard, seek out air conditioning if you’re uncomfortably warm indoors.

The bottom line: Be safe, not sorry. When you receive a prescription from your doctor and when you fll it with your pharmacist, ask about any increased risks with sun exposure. Take notes on what you learn and heed their warnings!

8

They can be a hazardous combinaTion. sTay safe!

MedicAtions + sun

siMple sundried toMAto, cheddAr & herB FrittAtA By diAne henderiks

Here are some upcoming events that will be of interest to seniors. The location is the Center for Healthy Living, Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, unless otherwise noted.

septeMBer

• 8,22 SelF-deFense

For older Adults Tuesdays 10–11 a.m.

• 8,22 BereAveMent

support group Tuesdays 2:15–3:30 p.m. & 3:30–4:45 p.m.

• 8,9,15,16,22,23,29,30

cAregivers

support group Tuesdays 12–2 p.m., Wednesdays 12:15–2:15 p.m.

• 9,16,23,30

grAndpArents

rAising

grAndchildren

support group

Wednesdays 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

• 11,18,25

chAir yogA Fridays, 2–3 p.m. ($5 per class)

• 21

FAll prevention

lunch And leArn

12 p.m. at the Center for Healthy Aging

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

• 1 tsp. olive oil

• ¼ cup red onion (sliced thinly)

• 3 whole eggs plus 3 egg whites

• ½ cup low-fat cot-tage cheese

• ½ cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes

• 1 Tb. of your favorite fresh herbs (I like basil, parsley and thyme in this one.)

• 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

• ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

1. Gather ingredients.

2. Place oven grate about 8 inches from broiler and preheat oven to 375 degrees.

3. Heat olive oil in medium cast iron pan over medium heat. Add onion and saute 2–3 minutes until soft.

4. In large bowl, whisk whole eggs and whites well. Add cottage cheese, sundried toma-toes, herbs and black pepper. Whisk well.

5. Stir in ¼ cup cheddar cheese and pour egg mixture into pan with onions, reduce heat to low and cook about 10 minutes until the eggs are just set.

6. Place in oven and bake for 10 minutes.

7. Top with reserved ¼ cup cheddar cheese.

8. Remove from oven and place in center of the table and serve right from the cast iron pan.

9.Enjoy!

Recipe brought to you by Better health, a free membership program created just for seniors from Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus. To learn more, visit barnabashealth.org/betterhealth and click ‘Join Today.’

INGREDIENTS Serves 4


healthy aging: september 2015

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