For Health’s Sake Health Expo Big Success at North Shore Towers BY STEPHEN VRATTOS Keynote speaker and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Steven Brook, DPM, owner and founder of Country Foot Care, highlighted the Queen’s Courier Health & Financial Expo, held at North Shore Towers on Friday, June 5. The event was sponsored by Country Foot Care, Bayada Home Health Care, Renaissance Home Care, Aetna Insurance, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, and Agewell NY. Attendees swarmed Towers on the Green, where the event took place, well before the 10am start-up time to gather information on important health issues, such as podiatry, home care, insurance and financial scams, and hear from a variety of experts in the field of senior healthcare. Victoria Schneps, President, CEO and Publisher of Schneps Communications, who sponsored the event, greeted attendees and remarked that the crowd was one of the best she’d seen for the always well attended semi-annual event. “My job is keeping people active,” said Dr. Brook before taking the dais to open the speaking part of the expo. “Staying active is the key to a long life.” Dr. Brook spoke of three majors foot problems: arthritis; fungal nails, which he says “everyone has to deal with,” and diabetic podiatry, which has its own avenue of treatment specific to diabetes. Country Foot Care provides complete foot care as well as a comprehensive line of footwear, including custom-molded shoes. Country Foot Care has two offices in Mineola and Williston Park. Senior Fraud Investigator of the Queens County Savings Bank, Glen Doyle, alerted the audience to scams targeting seniors. The “lottery scam” is a type of mail fraud, wherein the victim is informed of winning a huge cash prize, which they receive only by paying a large processing fee. An equally prevalent scam over the phone informs people of loved ones in dire circumstance overseas, such as being in an accident or arrested, and needing, for which they need money immediately to mitigate. Doyle stressed never giving one’s personal information to anyone over the phone and shredding documents before trashing. Funeral Director of Sinai Chapels, Christine Feingold, spoke of the importance of preparing for death in advance. She explained the difference between New York State and Florida as pertains to life insurance and alerted seniors to the Aid and Attendance Pension, a benefit to help ease the expense of home aid for veterans and their spouses. Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation provided two guest speakers. Martha Wolf informed the audience of the two types of young onsite dementia and the signs to look for in diagnosing each. She was followed by colleague Maureen Schneider who explained Parker Jewish Institute’s extensive day care programs which cater to the specific needs of the individual. Julie Cimilucca, Client Services Manager for Bayada Home Health Care, revealed that 25% of all admissions were caused by falls. She acknowledged seniors’ concern with allowing a stranger into their homes, but stressed the importance of such aid, which includes not only health services, but bathing, light housekeeping and transporatation. Aetna Medicare Sales Executive Karen Taylor informed attendees to the comprehensive services Aetna provides beyond Medicare. She reminded the audience that Aetna provides services throughout the United States, perfect for “snow birds,” who flee to the warmer climes of Florida over the cold winter months. “Now is the time you want to plan for the quality of life you wish to have as you get older;” so advised Laura Hymson, Director of Patient Services for Renaissance Home Health Care. Hymson cautioned that one Keynote Speaker Dr. Steven Brook should plan ahead, so as to ease the burden on loved ones who will be overseeing one’s care later in life. Barbara Nealand, Registered Nurse and Quality Consultant for Medex Diagnostic & Treatment Center, took pride in her company’s provision of services. Located in Forest Hills, Medex has offered “every option under one roof,” for more than 15 years. A duo of speakers from Companions Plus concluded the speaking. RN Marie Gilchrist lead the audience in performing a series of simple stretching exercises, suitable for most everyone and important in keeping one’s body active later in life. “You have to use it or lose it,” Gilchrist advised, though she also cautioned to never push past one’s threshold of pain. Colleague and Human Resources Manager Lekeisha Hall followed to explain some of the services of Companions Plus which prides itself in being “the alternative to a nursing home.” More than 200 people attended the expo, which included musical entertainment and a continental breakfast. The next event is scheduled for this coming October. For more information, email Amy Amato at [email protected] or call 718- 224-5863 (x201). Standing Room Only Photos by Stephen Vrattos Serenading the Crowd 18 North Shore Towers Courier n July 2015
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