Health

Brattleboro, Vermont. On Wednesday May 6, 2015 from 4:00-6:00 PM, Brattleboro Area Hospice will offer an opportunity for people to make a remembrance flag to honor someone who has died. Creating a Remembrance Flag can be a valuable commemoration activity to help individuals with grief. Children are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult. No special talent is needed, and all materials will be provided. The flags will hang at the Hospice Memorial Garden on Guilford Street during the coming year, though participants are welcome to take their flag home with them if they prefer.

You’re not the same driver you were when you were 16…or 35… or 65. As we age, our driving abilities change and our physical state can influence our behind-the-wheel state, too. If you want to refresh your driving skills, and get a discount on car insurance, you will want to register for the upcoming at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. The program will be held on Saturday, May 9, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, in the Brew Barry Conference Center.

Every year, there are new driving regulations and rules, as well as advances in car technology and safety. The course is for people 50 years old and older, and is designed to provide awareness of aging as it affects driving. You will learn about:

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and has been recognized by the with a Gold and Silver Award in recognition of the hospital’s Emergency Department “Rapid Care” campaign. With nearly 3,500 entries, the Healthcare Advertising Awards, sponsored by the (HMR), is the oldest, largest and most widely respected advertising awards competition in the country and one of the ten largest of all advertising awards.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s Rapid Care campaign was comprised of various print, digital, and direct mail pieces that utilized a striking blue background offset with large, white icons depicting various accidents, such as falling off a ladder or toppling over the handlebars of a bicycle.

Thursday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Robert H. Gibson River Garden, 157 Main Street, Brattleboro VT

Michael Finkelstein, MD, also known as the “Slow Medicine Doctor,” will present his approach to healthy living at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden in downtown Brattleboro on Thursday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.

The session, entitled “Slow Living is Healthy Living,” is sponsored by Strolling of the Heifers. Finkelstein will be joined by Orly Munzing, founder and executive director of Strolling of the Heifers, and Linda McInerney, founder and artistic director of Old Deerfield Productions.

Finkelstein teaches that most health challenges are the result of an imbalance in our bodies and lives, and that most quick-fix solutions actually exacerbate these imbalances. 

As part of the Wellness in Windham Spring 2015 calendar, BMH certified orthopaedic physician assistants Maureen Mahoney, PA-C, ATC and Wayne Temmen, PA-C, will present a program on Monday, April 27 at 6:00 PM in the Brew Barry Conference Center. Their topic of discussion will be living with osteoarthritis.

“Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It is a chronic condition in which the material that cushions the joints, called cartilage, breaks down,” says Maureen Mahoney. “This causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of joint movement. About 27 million people in America have osteoarthritis.”

As part of the Wellness in Windham Spring 2015 calendar, BMH orthopaedic surgeon Elizabeth McLarney, MD, will present a program on Monday, April 20 at 6:00 PM in the Brew Barry Conference Center. Her topic of discussion will be shoulder arthritis.

“Almost all people who have arthritis find that it affects their lives in some way. It can affect their everyday activities, their jobs, their financial resources or their relationships with family and friends,” says Dr. McLarney. “Arthritis is not easy to live with, but there is much we can do to change, overcome or cope with the problems it presents.”

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced the addition of Angela Thomas, DPT, to its Rehabilitation Services staff.

Thomas just moved to the Brattleboro area after spending 20 years living in the southwestern United States. She holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University and degrees in Educational Psychology and Physical Education from the University of Arizona. Thomas is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served five years as a Command and Control Journeyman.

Most recently, Thomas worked with adult orthopedic patients at a private practice in Tucson, Arizona. Her work experience includes a wide variety of settings, including acute care hospitals and outpatient rehab settings. She will provide both outpatient and inpatient care in her role at BMH.

The Northeast PsychoNeuroImmunology Institute for Healing presents “Train Your Brain to Retain,” a one-day program bringing people together to improve their mental acuity. On Saturday, April 11^th, we will gather in a relaxed, private home setting to learn memory strengthening techniques, to support one another on our memory journeys, to eat food that’s good for the brain (and the soul!), and to have a good time.

Participants will learn how to give their memories a workout by using tools proven through neuro-science. Advances in neuroplasticity show us that the brain can actually increase its capacity to learn and remember. This is a class for people who know their minds are still capable, but who have noticed declines in their sharpness.

You are your best healer! Come learn how each and everyone of us is born with the innate gift to heal ourselves. In this half-day intensive, you will experience simple and profound ways to awaken your body’s innate healing ability while deepening your capacity to relax and enjoy your life more completely.

Qigong is an ancient form of meditative movement that is over 5,000 years old. In China, qigong is one of the secrets to living a long and healthy life. The simple movements and breathing practices help relax the physical body, calm the mind and raise the spirit. It is an excellent form of preventative healthcare, and also used in treating major illnesses and minor ailments.

As part of the Wellness in Windham Spring 2015 calendar, BMH urologist Craig Rinder, MD, will present a program on Monday, April 13 at 6:00 PM in the Brew Barry Conference Center. His topic of discussion will be kidney stones.

“Kidney stones are notorious for being painful. The feeling has been described as being worse than childbirth labor pains,” says Dr. Rinder. “More than a million kidney stones are diagnosed in the United States each year. About 1 in 10 Americans will suffer from a kidney stone at some point.”

The Windham County Community Health Needs Assessment  Steering Committee is seeking to hear directly from community members, and is conducting an assessment through a survey that is open throughout the month of March.

The survey gives an opportunity to hear from a larger portion of the community (from as many who wish to participate).

The .

At this free class, Senior Solutions staff will provide unbiased information about the Medicare system. Medicare has strict enrollment periods, and this session will help  participants make timely decisions about drug plans and supplemental plans as well as many other issues.

This class is appropriate for those who are currently enrolled in Medicare, as well as anyone who will be signing up in the near future. Family members who help elders may also find this class useful. Space is limited, so please call ahead to register. There is no fee, but donations are appreciated.

To register or get more information, call the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-642-5119.

A new Six-Week Bereavement Support Group for adults begins on Thursday April 9th and will meet each Thursday from 4:30-6:00 pm, ending May 14th.

The group is free of charge and open to anyone in the community grieving the death loss of a loved one, no matter when or where the loss occurred. Bereavement Support Groups offer a safe, mutually supportive environment for sharing experiences through discussion, readings, simple activities, and suggestions for moving through grief.

This group is sponsored by Brattleboro Area Hospice and will meet at the hospice office at 191 Canal St. in Brattleboro. No prior connection with hospice is required in order to participate. Connie Baxter, Bereavement Care Coordinator will be the facilitator. The group size is limited to 8 people.

What Do Advance Care Directives have to do with Being a  Local Citizen?  

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast Invitation

The next Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast is planned for Friday, March 20, 2015 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.

What Do Advance Care Directives have to do with Being a  Local Citizen?

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast                                                      

February 20,  2015  •  Gibson-Aiken Center                                                                                                                                                                 

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced that Craig Rinder, MD, will join , effective March 2, 2015.

When the transition is complete, Dr. Rinder’s current practice, known as Craig Rinder, MD, LLC, will be called BMH Urology. Its offices will still be located at 375 Canal Street in Brattleboro, Vermont. The new phone number for making appointments will be 802-251-8720.

Dr. Rinder has been practicing urology in Vermont and New Hampshire for over 17 years. His practice provides medical and surgical care for illnesses involving the male and female urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra), the adrenal glands and the male reproductive tract.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, the , and are launching a new community health needs assessment (CHNA) to engage the communities they serve and learn more about the most pressing health care concerns and needs. Based on the data that the hospitals gather, each hospital will develop an implementation strategy to address prioritized health care needs. This CHNA is also an opportunity for hospitals to maintain compliance with federal regulations.

The three health care organizations are working collaboratively to gather information by conducting focus groups, developing and disseminating a short survey to the general public, and collecting and analyzing quantitative data. The Vermont Department of Health is providing population based indicators as part of the process.

Quieting one’s mind can often feel like an overwhelming task. During this half-day workshop, participants will learn simple yet effective ways to quiet the busy mind, also known as the “Monkey Mind”. Through the practice of Qigong we will gradually let go of the limits of our acquired self and open up to the infinite experience of our true nature. Participants will leave with a renewed and empowered sense of health and well-being.

Qigong consists of simple movements and breathing practices that relax the physical body, calm the mind and raise the spirit. It is an excellent form of preventative healthcare, and also used in treating major illnesses and minor ailments.

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast Invitation

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Center for Wound Healing

The next Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast is planned for Friday, February 20, 2015 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.

Tai Chi Chuan (Taiji Quan) otherwise known as Supreme Ultimate Boxing, is an ancient form of martial art that has been practiced for both health and self defense. It can be practiced for recreation, and to increase strength, flexibility, balance well into old age. Tai Chi Chuan is not performed in the same manner as most western calisthenics or sports. It requires a tremendous amount of mental and physical concentration and control. Tai Chi Chuan is often described as a moving meditation. After practice, one feels invigorated, clear-minded, and peaceful.