Dalai Lama’s “Instructions for Life”

June 2, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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On Sunday, June 4, at 10 a.m., Mr. Dick Hawkins will lead a discussion entitled “Instructions for Life” for the Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River, 914 Gateway Dr., Chestertown. Dick will start off our Summer Sunday Discussion by leading a dialog entitled “Instructions For Life,” based on wisdom from the Dalai Lama. Please come and help discuss the Dalia Lama’s suggestions for living life.

Our mission is to foster liberal religious ideals through public worship, study, service and fellowship; to provide a public forum to address religious, ethical and moral issues; to support individual freedom of belief and caring human relationships; to become an intentionally diverse community; to engage in promoting a just and humane social order.

Join us for this thoughtful discussion, Sunday, June 4, at 10:00 am. All are welcome. For more information visit our webpage.

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Homestead Manor Hosts Talk on Early Detection of Alzheimer’s and Dementia

April 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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Homestead Manor will host a lecture by Jennifer L. FitzPatrick in late April on, “Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters Alzheimer’s and Dementia” This presentation is designed for individuals who are interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s and dementia, anyone who is experiencing memory loss or other warning signs that might indicate a problem, and individuals who are worried about a family member or friend presenting possible symptoms.

When: Thursday, April 27, 2017
Where: Homestead Manor, 410 Colonial Drive Denton, Md
Time: 1:00 Pm – 2:00 Pm Presentation, Light Refreshments
Why: Learn More About Alzheimer’S And Dementia
Who: Everyone, Also Social Workers Will Earn Ceu’S

Call Now and RSVP 410-479-2273

 

Filed Under: Homestead Manor, Portal Notes, Portal Notes

2017 Spring Series by Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture

March 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture announces its new Spring 2017 series entitled “Faith And” at Washington College in Chestertown. The six-part series features:

Faith and Leadership
Al Sikes, former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission
“Faith & Leadership: A Discussion of a Life of Public Service”
6:00 PM, Wednesday, March 22
Litrenta Hall, 1st Floor of Toll Science Center, Washington College, Chestertown

Faith, Politics & The Ivory Tower
Josh Dunn, Director, Center for the Society of Government and the Individual, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Faith, Politics & The Ivory Tower: Conservatives and Higher Education
5:00 PM, Friday, March 24
Litrenta Hall, 1st Floor of Toll Science Center, Washington College, Chestertown

Faith & Science
JP Moorland, Distinguished Professor ofPhilosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
7:00 PM, Thursday, April 6
Litrenta Hall, 1st Floor of Toll Science Center, Washington College,
Chestertown

Faith Law & Liberty
Shannon Holzer, award winning author and scholar
7:30 PM, Wednesday, April 12
Litrenta Hall, 1st Floor of Toll Science Center, Washington College,
Chestertown

Faith & The Emotions
James K. A. Smith, Gary and Henrietta Byker, Chair in Applied Reformed Theology and Worldview, Calvin College
6:30 PM, Tuesday, April 18
Litrenta Hall, 1st Floor of Toll Science Center, Washington College,
Chestertown

Faith & Music
Andrew Balio, Principal Trumpet, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Director of the True Symphony Institute
6:00 PM. Tuesday, May 3
Litrenta Hall, 1st Floor of Toll Science Center, Washington College,
Chestertown

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Talbot Hospice Presents Caring for Individuals with Memory Disorders

February 22, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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Constantine LyketsosOn March 8, 2017, Talbot Hospice will hold its 2nd annual community outreach event Caring for Individuals with Memory Disorders: State of the Art 2017. The featured speaker is Constantine G. Lyketsos, M.D., M.H.S., Interim Director of the Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and world renowned expert in Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The event is open to the public at no cost and will be held at the Easton High School auditorium beginning at 6 p.m. Providers will be available in the lobby for the first half hour to distribute materials and answers questions. The main presentation begins at 6:30, and afterwards a panel will field questions from the audience. Registration can be made online at TalbotHospice.org/events or by calling 410-822-6681. Presenting sponsors are Avon Dixon and Shore United Bank.

“A component of our mission at Talbot Hospice is education and outreach, and we are pleased to be able to bring Dr. Lyketsos’ to Talbot County,” said Executive Director Vivian Dodge. “We have chosen this topic because Alzheimer’s and the other dementias affect a vast portion of our aging population, and we believe that the information will be very helpful to both caregivers and providers in our community. Because of the present regulations governing hospice qualification, Talbot Hospice can only assist in the care of these patients when it has been determined that they have a less than six month life expectancy from whatever cause.”

Head 1An active clinician, teacher, and researcher on the Johns Hopkins faculty since 1993, Dr. Lyketsos’ primary areas of interest are neuropsychiatry and memory disorders. Many of his clinical and research interests are integrated in the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer’s Center which he founded as a collaborative partnership between the departments of psychiatry, neurology, and geriatric medicine to offer patients comprehensive evaluation and innovative treatment for a range of conditions that affect cognition and memory, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, traumatic brain injury, and brain vascular disease. Dr. Lyketsos has carried out pioneering work on the epidemiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric features of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. His interest in traumatic brain injury has led him to leadership roles in military and veteran’s health and collaborations with the NFL Players Association.

Dr. Lyketsos has authored or co-authored over 350 scientific articles, chapters, commentaries, as well as five books. He is the recipient of the 2016 Jack Weinberg Award in Geriatric Psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association, the 2012 Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, and the 2006 William S. Proxmire Award for “extraordinary leadership in the fight against Alzheimer’s” from the Copper Ridge Institute. Castle-Connolly has named Dr. Lyketsos as one of America’s Top Doctors every year since 2001.

A native of Athens, Greece, Dr. Lyketsos graduated from Northwestern University and Washington University Medical School in St. Louis (1988). He completed residency and chief residency in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins (1988-92), followed by a fellowship in clinical epidemiology.

Filed Under: Homepage Highlights, Portal Notes, Portal Notes, Talbot Hospice

Homestead Manor Assisted Living Offering Free Crab Cake Lunch March 29

February 21, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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On Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at noon, Homestead Manor Assisted Living is hosting a free crab cake luncheon for anyone and everyone considering assisted living. The luncheon will feature a short presentation by our Executive Director, Christine Harrington, along with a guided tour of the newly remodeled resident suites followed by the crab cake luncheon. Reserve your space today by calling 410-479-2273. Homestead Manor, Assisted Living is the Eastern Shore’s Best Kept Secret. Those who attend the luncheon will also get a sneak peek at our newly renovated living room for our residents! A ribbon cutting will be scheduled for the general public in April.

Homestead Manor Assisted Living has a tradition of caring and was founded on the principles of acceptance, compassion, care, and love. It is an assisted living facility dedicated to providing a caring community environment across all levels of care associated with retirement living. Homestead Manor’s mission is to support independence, comfort, dignity and safety in an individualized home-like setting resulting in a high quality life experience.
About Homestead Manor Assisted Living

Homestead Manor Assisted Living offers personalized care for your loved one. There are over 50 spacious resident suites, each with their own private patio and fully accessible bathrooms. State of the art infrastructure through Care Tracker and Medication Management assures your loved one is well taken care of along with on-site doctor visits and physical therapy. Residents enjoy a full range of activities and social activities so they can live independently.

Homestead Manor is located at 410 Colonial Drive, Denton, MD 21629. For more information call 410-479-2273 (CARE) or http://www.homesteadmanoral.com/

Filed Under: Homepage Notes, Homestead Manor, Portal Notes

HomePorts Reviews Annual Accomplishments

February 14, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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HomePorts, Inc. held its annual meeting on February 7, with a presentation by Jane E. Hukill, President, summarizing the work during 2016. HomePorts is a membership organization helping older adults to continue living safely and comfortably in their own homes.

According to Hukill, there are now a total of 100 members, nine of whose membership fees are covered by a financial assistance program. Local transportation is the most requested service, with members offered five rides per months from volunteers. Over the past two years there has been a huge increase in requests and in the number of volunteer time donated. In 2016 members made 785 requests, with volunteers providing over 1200 hours of service.

Board 2017

HomePorts 2017 Board members are front row: Courtney Sjostrom, vice-president; Katie Davis, RN; Nancy Cowdrey; Back row: Joe Harding; Bill Cameron, Treasurer; Wayne Benjamin, MD; and Jane E. Hukill, President. Not shown: Jane Heckles, Secretary; Jean Austin; Kristie Hartman; Trish Focht, RN; Jon Hanley; and John Leek.

HomePorts maintains a list of 66 approved providers of paid services (i.e., vendors) in 34 categories of service, including interior and exterior home maintenance, computer trouble-shooting, out-of-town transportation, and pet care. The most common needs are non-medical home care, house cleaning, paid transportation, and handy persons.

Additionally, HomePorts encourages participation in social, educational, and cultural activities and expects to expand education programs that are open and free to the public. It also plans to hold a Health Fair again at the Kent County High School, on October 19, 2017, with extensive exhibits, health screenings, and expert talks.

Other plans for 2017 include working more with local agencies and organizations, increasing the membership, and recruiting more volunteers.

Those eligible for membership include anyone over 55 living in the greater Kent County area. HomePorts is modeled after similar organizations operating successfully in other regions of the country.  Founding members spent two years studying other such “villages”, which are springing up rapidly in many communities and are cited by experts as the wave of the future.  The first one in Boston, known as Beacon Hill Village, has been in operation for over ten years. There are now over twenty in Maryland, with HomePorts being the first on the Eastern Shore.

“If you have a friend or neighbor who could benefit from our services, I encourage you to call me,” says Executive Director Karen Wright. “Or if you don’t need any help now but want to get involved, we have opportunities for one-time projects and a real need for drivers to take members to local medical appointments.”

Information about membership or volunteering is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 443-480-0940 or go to www.homeports.org. The e-mail address is karen@homeports.org.

Filed Under: Homepage Highlights, Homeports, Portal Notes

Compass Regional Hospice Hosts Free Screening of “Being Mortal”

February 9, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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Compass Regional Hospice will host a free, community screening of the documentary “Being Mortal” on Thursday, February 23, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College, 1000 College Circle in Wye Mills. After the screening, audience members can participate in a guided conversation led by Sharon Loving, Supervisor of Support Services, Compass Regional Hospice, on how to take concrete steps to identify and communicate wishes about end-of-life goals and preferences. Following the guided conversation there will be light refreshments and a time of fellowship.

“Being Mortal” delves into the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness. The film investigates the practice of caring for the dying and explores the relationships between patients and their doctors. It follows a surgeon, Dr. Atul Gawande, as he shares stories from the people and families he encounters. When Dr. Gawande’s own father gets cancer, his search for answers about how best to care for the dying becomes a personal quest. The film sheds light on how a medical system focused on a cure often leaves out the sensitive conversations that need to happen so a patient’s true wishes can be known and honored at the end.

“Being Mortal” underscores the importance of people planning ahead and talking with family members about end-of-life decisions.

Seventy percent of Americans say they would prefer to die at home, but nearly 70 percent die in hospitals and institutions. Ninety percent of Americans know they should have conversations about end-of-life care, yet only 30 percent have done so.

In February 2015, “Being Mortal” aired nationally on the PBS program “Frontline.” For more information about the film, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/being-mortal/. The film is adapted from Dr. Gawande’s 2014 nationally best-selling book of the same name. More information about the book is at http://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/.

The free screening is made possible by a grant from The John and Wauna Harman Foundation in partnership with the Hospice Foundation of America.

For more information and to RSVP to the free screening of “Being Mortal,” contact Allison Wood, awood@compassregionalhospice. org, 443-262-4117.

Filed Under: Homepage Highlights, Portal Notes

Around The Senior Nation: Trump Appointees Show Age Doesn’t Matter by Bill Rolle

January 16, 2017 by 2 Comments
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Never say you’re too old. Check the ages of many of President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s in-coming administration. It’s shaping up to be the oldest administration in modern history. Trump is the oldest person to be elected President at age 70.

Other seniors in the administration will include Ben Carson, Nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (65), Gen. John Kelly, Nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security (66), Gen. James Mattis, Nominee for Secretary of Defense (66), Rick Perry, Nominee for Secretary of Energy (66), Andrew Puzder, Nominee for Secretary of Labor (66), Wilbur Ross, Nominee for Secretary of Commerce (79), and Rex Tillerson, Nominee for Secretary of State (64). Each of them has reached the age to be eligible for retirement. Does it matter? Doesn’t appear so. It’s more a state of mind.

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ENT Physician Laurie Porter, DO, Serves Patients in Chestertown

December 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment
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For Laurie Porter, DO, the first Wednesday in December was her first clinic day seeing Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) patients in Chestertown.

porter_laurie“What I look forward to with my work in Chestertown is serving a population that needs these services right here,” says Dr. Porter. “There has been a need to have a practitioner in Kent County to serve patients who otherwise would have to travel some distance to see an ENT doctor, and I am glad that I will be able to do that.”

With Timothy Schneider, MD and Morris Effron, MD, Dr. Porter is a practitioner with University of Maryland Community Group – Otolaryngology. Beginning in January, 2017, she will see patients by appointment at UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Chestertown and will schedule surgeries at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown. Because she treats all types of ENT problems, her patients range in age from newborns to centenarians.

“I see a wide range of ENT issues – hearing problems, allergies, and many throat problems,” she says. “To avoid hearing problems people need to understand how important it is to have their ear health checked every year along with their other health checkups.”

Kent County and the surrounding region are home to many allergens and wide seasonal variability, notes Dr. Porter. For patients with allergies, determining the source and developing a treatment plan that provides relief from symptoms making her patients comfortable are her primary concerns.

Regarding throat problems, Dr. Porter says, “People who smoke or drink alcohol heavily have a 1,000 times greater risk of developing head and neck cancer.” She advises reducing smoking and drinking habits to lower that risk. For patients wishing to lower their risk of throat problems associated with gastrointestinal issues, she advises developing a healthy diet.

Prior to joining UM Shore Regional Health in 2011, Dr. Porter practiced for 10 years at The New England Center for Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery in Nashua, New Hampshire. She earned her doctoral degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed internships at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and Temple East, Northeastern Hospital in Philadelphia, as well as her residency in otolaryngology, surgery and facial plastic surgery at UMDNJ.

Fishing is one of the activities Dr. Porter and her husband especially enjoy about living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“I grew up in western Pennsylvania where I fished for bass on the Allegheny River. I have fished on the Bay, and I love catching rockfish,” she says. “I am now looking forward to doing some rockfish tournaments. All I need to know is where the good fishing hot spots are!”

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,500 employees, medical staff, board members, and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Filed Under: Homepage Highlights, Portal Notes, Portal Notes, UM SRH
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